Elderly Man Who Falsely Claimed to Shoot Charlie Kirk Now Faces Child Exploitation Charges

A 71-year-old Utah man who falsely confessed to the high-profile killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk is now facing disturbing new criminal charges, including possession of child sexual abuse materials.

George Zinn, a longtime political activist known for his disruptive behavior at public events, initially told authorities that he was responsible for the fatal shooting of Kirk at Utah Valley University (UVU). The shooting occurred during a conservative event on campus last Wednesday, drawing national media attention and sparking confusion and chaos in the moments that followed.

According to local law enforcement and court documents, Zinn approached officers moments after the shooting, reportedly shouting, “I shot him, now shoot me!” He was immediately taken into custody, but it quickly became clear he was not involved in the actual crime. Police found that Zinn had no weapon and no connection to the fatal shot that struck Kirk from a nearby rooftop, approximately 200 yards away.

Following his arrest, Zinn later admitted to investigators that he had not shot Kirk. Instead, he claimed his outburst was an attempt to “draw attention away from the real shooter” and to serve as a “martyr” for the conservative figure who had just been killed.

Authorities say that Zinn’s false confession significantly hindered the early stages of the investigation. Police resources were diverted to verify his story, delaying the response to the real suspect and causing confusion among both the officers on the scene and the public.

“He said he shot him, but I don’t know,” one officer was heard telling bystanders in the immediate aftermath, as seen in witness video. The footage also shows officers dragging Zinn away as he yelled, “Shoot me!” while angry onlookers cursed at him, mistakenly believing he was the killer.

Zinn has now been charged with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony in Utah, due to his deliberate efforts to mislead law enforcement at a critical time. But more seriously, he’s now facing additional charges stemming from what authorities found during a search of his phone.

While in custody, Zinn initially refused to hand over his phone to investigators. According to court filings, he told police that the device contained “child sexual abuse material.” Upon obtaining a warrant and searching the device, authorities say they discovered over 20 graphic images depicting the sexual abuse of children, some believed to be as young as five years old.

Investigators also uncovered text messages where Zinn allegedly shared this material with others. As a result, he now faces multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor—a charge that carries severe penalties under Utah law.

Zinn has long been known in Utah’s political circles as a disruptive figure. Often referred to as a “gadfly,” he has repeatedly shown up at protests, city council meetings, and political events, where he has often been removed for trespassing or unruly conduct.

“He’s always been around, usually just on the sidelines—never really taken seriously, but always present,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, who has dealt with Zinn in prior legal cases. “He can display odd behavior, but this is beyond anything we’ve seen from him before.”

Zinn previously served a one-year jail sentence in 2013 after threatening to bomb the Salt Lake City Marathon, according to public records. His long history of erratic behavior has now escalated into criminal charges that could put him behind bars for many years.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the actual killing of Charlie Kirk has moved forward. Authorities have charged 29-year-old Tyler Robinson with Kirk’s murder. Robinson appeared via video for his first court appearance this week and now faces seven felony counts, including capital murder.

According to prosecutors, Robinson, who had recently undergone significant personal changes including entering a relationship with a transgender individual, had shown signs of increasing radicalization. This, they believe, may have been a factor in the shooting. The Utah County Attorney’s Office has announced plans to seek the death penalty in the case.

Kirk, 31, was speaking to a crowd of supporters in UVU’s main plaza when he was fatally shot from an elevated position. A father of two, Kirk was known nationally for his vocal conservative stances and had drawn both support and controversy throughout his career.

As the legal process unfolds, both the false confession by Zinn and the shocking charges now against him have only added more complexity—and darkness—to an already tragic case.