Man Arrested After Fatal Shooting of Charlie Kirk
A 71-year-old man was taken into custody shortly after the deadly shooting of Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA. He faces charges for allegedly trying to mislead authorities with a false confession to the murder, as well as for possessing child sexual abuse material.
George Zinn was arrested on Monday and is now charged with a second-degree felony for obstructing justice regarding Kirk’s death at Utah Valley University. Court records show he is being held without bail.
In addition to the murder-related charges, Zinn was found to have material on his phone that depicted child sexual abuse. It seems he initially hesitated to let investigators examine his device, later admitting to having viewed inappropriate content. A search revealed over 20 explicit images involving minors, as well as messages sharing the material with others.
Witness accounts indicate that immediately after the shooting on September 10, Zinn shouted, “I shot him – now shoot me!” Video footage of officers restraining him spread widely online, creating some confusion about whether he was the actual shooter. When an officer inquired about the gun used, Zinn reportedly said, “I am not going to tell you.”
However, Zinn later changed his story, admitting he was not the shooter and insisting he was trying to protect the “real” perpetrator, claiming his confession was meant to divert attention and make him a “martyr.” After briefly being hospitalized for a medical issue, he was taken into custody where he expressed relief for his earlier false admission, believing it gave the real shooter a chance to escape.
Still, Zinn faces serious charges related to both Kirk’s murder and the exploitation of minors due to the disturbing content found on his device.
Meanwhile, authorities have apprehended the actual suspect in Kirk’s murder, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Washington County, Utah, following a two-day manhunt. On Tuesday, prosecutors officially charged Robinson with capital murder, indicating they will seek the death penalty. His charges also include aggravated murder and several other serious offenses.
Interestingly, Robinson referenced Zinn’s arrest in conversations with his partner on the day of the shooting, implying that he was the real killer while suggesting the police had mistakenly apprehended Zinn.
Zinn has a long criminal history in Utah and is recognized as a disruptive political activist. He often appears at political events and protests, presenting challenges to figures like Charlie Kirk, who significantly influence young Republican voters.
In a past incident in 2013, Zinn was arrested for emailing race organizers about potentially planting bombs at a marathon, just days after the Boston Marathon bombing, which led to a felony terror threat charge. He ultimately accepted a plea deal, resulting in probation. More recently, he faced charges of criminal trespassing.
