“Many campus police departments do not have drone programs, which is a big problem,” he said. “I’m actually working on that because it’s something they should all have. It should be mandated by some sort of law. … So anyway, just in quick defense of the security, they’re only allowed to protect his immediate vicinity. They have to rely on PD to secure the larger perimeter.”

UVU launched a full review of its protocols amid growing scrutiny.

“We believe the findings of the comprehensive, third-party independent review of this targeted act of violence will offer valuable insights on how college campuses improve response and preparedness moving forward,” Astrid S. Tuminez, president of UVU, said. “We will integrate the findings into our efforts to strengthen and improve safety practices for UVU and all of Utah higher education.”

Booking photos for Tyler Robinson, 22, the suspect in the Utah assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. (Utah Gov. Spencer Cox)

While some have called for counter-snipers or high-tech surveillance, McDonald cautioned that universities rarely deploy such measures absent a specific threat.

“Absent any intelligence that there was an active shooter…you’re not going to have officers stationed on rooftops,” he said.

Still, he acknowledged the assassination may prompt schools to rethink security for high-profile or controversial speakers.

“We’re used to going through metal detectors at football games, concerts, airports,” McDonald noted. “Maybe we’ll start to see that on campuses too — though in this case, I’m not sure a metal detector would have made a difference.”

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.