The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University has drawn national attention — not only because of the political violence involved, but also because of the technological tools available to investigators. While Orem is not a heavily surveilled city like New York or Chicago, it does have a network of cameras that could assist the FBI as it works to identify the shooter.
Campus Security Cameras
The most immediate source of video evidence is Utah Valley University’s security system, which covers:
-
Building entrances and exits
-
Parking lots and sidewalks
-
Event areas and gathering spots
These cameras often have higher resolution and are tied into security monitoring centers, making them useful for facial recognition and movement analysis.
City Traffic Monitoring Cameras
While Orem has relatively few enforcement cameras, it does operate traffic management cameras at major intersections and freeway exits. These aren’t designed to ticket drivers but can still provide:
-
Vehicle sightings at critical choke points
-
Images of cars entering and leaving the campus area
-
Timeline reconstruction when synced with other footage
Orem, Utah traffic cameras map does not have many ALPR camera locations.
Private & Retail Surveillance
The FBI will also rely heavily on private camera networks, including:
-
Retail and gas station cameras along State Street and University Parkway
-
Residential doorbell systems like Ring and Nest
-
Parking garage cameras in commercial areas
These sources often fill gaps in public surveillance and can provide high-quality stills for suspect identification.
Flock Safety ALPR Cameras
One of the most important tools in cities like Orem is the Flock Safety camera system. These automatic license plate reader (ALPR) units are increasingly popular in smaller and mid-sized U.S. cities because they are:
-
Community-Based: Often funded by neighborhood associations, HOAs, or local businesses.
-
Vehicle-Focused: They scan license plates, vehicle make, model, and color, not faces.
-
Cloud-Connected: Data is stored and shared securely with local police departments.
-
Real-Time Alerts: If a vehicle linked to a suspect is detected, the system can send an instant alert to law enforcement.
In the Charlie Kirk case, if the shooter used a car to arrive or leave, Flock cameras could capture that vehicle’s plate, even if Orem lacks a dense traffic camera network. This data could then be cross-referenced with FBI and DMV databases to quickly generate leads.
Police Body and Dash Cameras
Orem Police Department’s body-worn cameras and dashcams will also play a role by providing:
-
Real-time video from responding officers
-
Evidence of crowd movement and public reaction
-
Supplemental documentation of the scene
How These Cameras Help the FBI
-
Facial Recognition: From campus and retail systems
-
Vehicle Tracking: From traffic cameras and Flock ALPR hits
-
Crowd Reconstruction: Using multiple overlapping angles
-
Forensic Cross-Checks: Linking video with palm prints, footwear impressions, and the recovered rifle
Limitations of Orem’s Camera Network
-
Few red-light or speed cameras
-
Limited citywide ALPR coverage
-
Dependence on private and community-based systems like Flock Safety
Final Takeaway
While Orem, Utah lacks the dense surveillance networks of major U.S. cities, the combination of UVU campus security cameras, city traffic monitoring systems, retail and residential video, and Flock Safety ALPR cameras provides investigators with valuable tools. These technologies, especially when integrated with FBI forensic analysis, may prove decisive in identifying the shooter and closing the case.