A 71-year-old man, George Zinn, has been arrested for allegedly obstructing justice by falsely confessing to the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA executive director Charlie Kirk. The incident occurred at Utah Valley University (UVU) on 10 September. Zinn was taken into custody after being released from hospital, where he was being treated for a medical condition.
According to UVU campus police documents, Zinn shouted, “I shot him – now shoot me,” immediately after the killing. Video of officers detaining him circulated online, leading some to believe a suspect had been caught. However, when asked about the murder weapon, Zinn allegedly replied, “I am not going to tell you.” He later admitted he was not the shooter and claimed he acted to draw attention away from the real killer, hoping to become “a martyr” for Kirk.
Zinn also faces charges related to child sexual abuse images found on his phone. Investigators say the device contained over 20 images depicting children aged between five and 12, along with explicit messages sharing the material. Zinn was reportedly reluctant to let officers examine his phone, stating he used it to view child sexual abuse content.
The actual suspect in Kirk's killing, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Washington county, Utah, was arrested on Friday after a two-day manhunt. Robinson has been charged with capital murder, and prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted. Messages from Robinson to his roommate allegedly mentioned that police had “grabbed some crazy old dude” before he identified himself as the killer.
Zinn has a history of criminal charges in Utah, including a 2013 arrest for allegedly offering to help set up bombs at the Salt Lake City marathon, days after the Boston marathon bombing. He was described by a local district attorney as “politically conservative, leaning libertarian”. A judge has ordered Zinn to be held without bail.
