Authorities report that an elderly man arrested recently at Utah Valley University mistakenly claimed that conservative activist Charlie Kirk is facing child pornography charges.
George Zinn, 71, was on campus Wednesday, yelling about having shot Kirk shortly after Kirk suffered a fatal gunshot wound in front of onlookers.
His statement led to confusion, with many believing the shooter had been apprehended, but it was later revealed that the 22-year-old gunman, Tyler Robinson, was fleeing the scene.
After Zinn arrived at the police station, he was taken to the hospital due to medical issues, where he allegedly admitted to making his statements “to get attention from the real shooter.” He was subsequently charged with obstruction of justice.
As noted by the Salt Lake Tribune, Zinn is recognized for attending various events, from political gatherings to film festivals, and has had some past interactions with law enforcement.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office later disclosed that during Zinn’s hospital interview, he made unsettling comments about his phone, suggesting the presence of child sexual abuse materials.
Upon reviewing his phone, authorities discovered images of “prepubescent girls scantily dressed,” which led to the involvement of the UCSO Special Victims Unit.
A search warrant executed revealed over 20 inappropriate images of minors aged 5 to 12 showing “various stages of undressing and sexual poses.”
Additionally, Zinn reportedly indicated that he derived “sexual satisfaction” from looking at and sharing these materials, mentioning a “preferred age” range of 5 to 12 years.
Following these findings, he faced four new second-degree felony charges for sexual exploitation of minors and remains in the Utah County Jail.
Currently, there is no evidence suggesting that Zinn collaborated with the shooter. Tyler Robinson, the primary suspect in Kirk’s murder, was arrested later and linked to DNA found on a weapon hidden in nearby woods.
The FBI confirmed that his DNA matched samples connected to a weapon found at a location used by the shooter in the incident.
