Utah State University evacuated a building because of a suspicious package Tuesday afternoon — just hours before and about a half-mile away from where Turning Point USA began its first Utah event since founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in the state earlier this month.
As of about 3:45 p.m., the school’s iconic Old Main administration building was considered “clear and safe” after an alert sent at 2:44 p.m. ordered anyone inside to immediately evacuate.
A message sent eight minutes after the first explained the evacuation order was because of a suspicious package.
“Police are responding,” the second alert read. “Leave immediately using the nearest exit. Use stairs, not elevators. Take only essential items.”
Responding authorities detonated the suspicious package “out of an abundance of caution,” university spokesperson Amanda DeRito confirmed just before 4 p.m.
She later confirmed the suspicious item was “deemed to be a non-explosive device” and said the situation remains under investigation.
“At this time, we do not believe it was an intentional threat or related to the TPUSA event,” she later added.
At least one officer could be seen outside the building Tuesday afternoon in a bomb suit. Witnesses heard a small explosion around 3:15 p.m.
(Jeff Parrott) Law enforcement officers stand outside a trailer on the campus of Utah State University in Logan, after a small package was detonated "out of an abundance of caution," a university spokesperson said. The Old Main building was evacuated before the package was detonated outside its north side.
The school had a larger police presence on campus Tuesday in preparation for the Turning Point USA event. The bomb squad that responded to the suspicious item Tuesday was already on campus as part of that increased presence, DeRito said.
Kirk was originally scheduled to speak at USU on Tuesday as part of his college campus tour. He was fatally shot during his Utah Valley University appearance on Sept. 10.
The alleged suspect in the shooting, Tyler James Robinson, turned himself in the next day and has since been charged with seven counts, including murder.
Kirk’s organization decided to move forward with its scheduled tour in his honor. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, were slated to speak in Kirk’s place at the Logan campus Tuesday evening.
Lee didn’t end up participating, saying in a recorded video at the event that he had to remain in Washington to participate in votes ahead of a possible government shutdown.
[Read more: Sen. Mike Lee was a guest on Charlie Kirk’s show a week before Kirk’s death. Here’s what they said.]
That event is being held inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum starting at 6:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m.
USU decided to move the event inside in order to screen ticketed attendees and offer more security after the UVU shooting.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah State University's Old Main building in Logan, Utah, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.