A 71-year-old man who falsely confessed to shooting conservative leader Charlie Kirk to help the real gunman escape now faces child pornography charges.
Story Highlights
- George Zinn falsely confessed to shooting Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University to distract police and help the actual shooter flee
- FBI discovered child sexual abuse material on Zinn’s phone during the investigation, leading to additional federal charges
- Zinn has an extensive criminal history including terrorism threats and violent protest arrests dating back over a decade
- Law enforcement filed a motion to hold Zinn without bail as he faces both obstruction of justice and sexual exploitation charges
Criminal Deception Backfires Spectacularly
George Zinn approached Utah Valley University police immediately after Charlie Kirk was shot on September 10, 2025, repeatedly claiming responsibility for the attack and demanding officers shoot him. The 71-year-old’s dramatic confession was designed to create chaos and allow the real shooter to escape undetected. However, Zinn’s plan backfired when he later admitted to investigators that his confession was fabricated, leading to his arrest for obstruction of justice and exposing him to federal scrutiny that would uncover far more serious crimes.
BREAKING!! George Zinn, the 71-year-old man who falsely confessed to police that he shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk moments after the September 10 assassination at Utah Valley University, to distract from the real gunman, has been charged with possession of child sexual… pic.twitter.com/56jsrakyOV
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) September 16, 2025
FBI Investigation Reveals Disturbing Discovery
During their investigation into Zinn’s false confession, FBI agents examined his personal devices and made a shocking discovery. Child sexual abuse material was found on Zinn’s phone, resulting in federal charges for sexual exploitation of a minor. This finding transformed what began as an obstruction case into a serious federal crime investigation, demonstrating how Zinn’s attempt to insert himself into a high-profile case ultimately exposed his own criminal behavior.
Watch: Charlie Kirk Latest: George Zinn Confessed to Help Charlie Kirk’s Killer Flee; SHOCKING Plot Exposed
Pattern of Criminal Behavior Emerges
Zinn’s false confession fits a disturbing pattern of criminal and disruptive behavior spanning over a decade. In 2013, he made threats of terrorism related to the Salt Lake City Marathon. Six years later, he was arrested for violent behavior at a Utah Inland Port Authority Board meeting protest. Just weeks before the Kirk shooting, Zinn faced criminal trespassing charges in August 2025, establishing a clear escalation in his criminal activities.
Law Enforcement Seeks Maximum Detention
Utah County prosecutors filed a motion to hold Zinn without bail, citing both the severity of his charges and his history of criminal behavior. The 71-year-old remains in custody while facing dual prosecutions for obstruction of justice in the Kirk case and federal charges related to child exploitation. His actions not only disrupted a critical investigation into an assassination attempt against a prominent conservative figure but also wasted valuable law enforcement resources during a public safety emergency.
This case highlights the dangerous consequences of false confessions in high-profile crimes and demonstrates how criminal behavior often intersects in unexpected ways. While the actual shooter remains at large, Zinn’s misguided attempt to obstruct justice has only resulted in exposing his own serious federal crimes and ensuring he faces the full weight of the law.
