AN OLD man who falsely claimed he shot Charlie Kirk did so to reportedly help the real assassin escape, it has emerged.
George Zinn, 71, and a known political agitator, was arrested in the frantic aftermath of Kirk’s assassination.
Elderly agitator George Zinn was arrested after Charlie Kirk’s shooting, then released[/caption]
The old man yelled ‘I shot him, now shoot me’ before being taken into custody[/caption]
Police confirmed Zinn was not the gunman, booking him for obstruction of justice instead[/caption]
Charlie Kirk speaks before he is shot during Turning Point’s visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah[/caption]
Court documents obtained by local station Fox 13 revealed that Zinn told cops he was trying to “draw attention away from the real shooter”.
The report states that an unarmed Zinn approached cops immediately after Kirk was killed and yelled: “I shot him, now shoot me.”
He later admitted he did not kill Charlie, but confessed he wanted to create a distraction.
Cops said his false claims delayed the investigation into Kirk’s killing and needlessly took up law enforcement resources.
He has now been charged with obstruction of justice, which is a second-degree felony.
Dramatic video showed cops arresting the elderly agitator in the chaotic aftermath of the shooting.
The white-haired political activist was seen kneeling on the ground as cops cuffed him, before being dragged through the shell-shocked crowd at the Utah Valley University Orem campus.
In the chaos, his pants dropped to his ankles and he was forced to shuffle in his boxers.
The clip of Zinn’s arrest instantly went viral, racking up millions of views online and spreading false claims that he was the assassin.
Locals instantly recognized Zinn, who has racked up around 25 criminal charges ranging from trespassing to disturbing the peace, according to records reviewed by the Daily Mail.
The Salt Lake Tribune once described him as the “Utah gadfly – a regular at state Republican functions, and a frequent presence at movie promo screenings and the Sundance Film Festival”.
Zinn’s history includes a 2013 charge for threatening to plant bombs at the Salt Lake City Marathon finish line.
He struck a plea deal, serving probation and undergoing mental health treatment.
In 2019, he was among five arrested during a violent protest against the Utah Inland Port Authority — though his peers were half his age.
His antics go back to the 1980s, when he became a notorious gatecrasher at Republican Party events.
At the 1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans, he had nowhere to stay until Utah’s former Reagan-era education secretary T.H. Bell let him crash on a cot.
When he tried the same stunt at the 2012 RNC in Tampa, hotel staff booted him out.
His latest scrape came in May when he was arrested for blocking traffic.
Kirk was tragically shot in the neck last Wednesday as he launched his “American Comeback” campus tour in Utah.
Tyler Robinson has been identified as the suspect behind the shocking assassination of right wing influencer Charlie Kirk[/caption]
Timeline of Charlie Kirk shooting
CONSERVATIVE commentator Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10
Tuesday, September 9
8:29 am MDT – Shooter arrives on the Utah Valley University campus, as seen in surveillance videos.
Wednesday, September 10
11:52 am – The shooter, described as a college-age individual, arrives on campus before maneuvering onto a rooftop.
12:00 pm – Charlie Kirk is scheduled to host a debate in the UVU Fountain Courtyard.
12:10 pm – A shot is fired at Kirk from 200 yards away and hits him in the neck. The event is immediately evacuated and a man is taken into custody.
1:02 pm – President Donald Trump posts a call to pray for Kirk on Truth Social.
1:37 pm – UVU closes campus, cancels classes, and tells students to leave campus immediately.
1:50 pm – Officials confirm Kirk is in critical condition to the Associated Press.
2:40 pm – Trump confirms Kirk has died, hailing him “great, legendary” in a post on Truth Social.
4:21 pm FBI Director Kash Patel shares on X that the ‘subject for the horrific shooting’ is in custody.
4:30 pm – Utah Governor Spencer Cox, speaking at a press conference, brands Kirk’s death a ‘political assassination. Cox adds there is a ‘person of interest’ in custody and a man arrested earlier has been released.
7:59 pm – Patel, the FBI director, confirmed a second subject taken into custody in connection with Kirk’s shooting was released after being interrogated by law enforcement.
Thursday, September 11
7:15 am – Officials hold a press conference where they announce they have “good video” of the suspect and they recovered the “high-action bolt rifle” in the nearby woods.
9:55 am – Visuals of the suspect are released as officials ask for the public’s help in identifying the individual in the photos.
10:44 am – FBI offers a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone involved in Kirk’s assassination.
10:00 pm – Tyler Robinson is arrested on Thursday night in St. George, Utah, after his dad turned him in. He’s booked into the Utah County Jail.
Friday, September 12
6:00 am – Trump announces a suspect was in custody during an appearance on Fox & Friends. “I think, with a high degree of certainty, we have him,” the president said.
7:30 am – A press conference is held with FBI and Utah government officials, including Cox and Patel, where the Utah governor confirmed, “We got him.” The suspect is identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Utah.
The 31-year-old died in hospital as a huge manhunt was launched resulting in the arrest of main suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
Robinson’s arrest was made after his dad turned him in, bringing an end to the desperate manhunt.
He had confessed to his dad that he carried out the shooting, who then told a family friend, who called law enforcement to the scene on Thursday night, authorities revealed.
Charges are set to be formally filed against Robinson on Tuesday.
Robinson is understood to be under “special watch” after he allegedly told his dad “he’d rather die than hand himself in”.
He is being housed in the Utah County jail’s Special Housing Unit – where he is monitored around the clock to ensure he doesn’t harm himself or others, according to TMZ.
Robinson reportedly admitted to killing the conservative activist in Discord messages sent two hours before his arrest.
The suspected rifle used to kill Kirk was found wrapped in a towel that reportedly had Robinson’s DNA evidence on it[/caption]
Robinson pictured posing with a light machine gun[/caption]
Robinson, accused of killing Charlie Kirk, previously bragged about his long-range shooting skills[/caption]
Online pals of Tyler Robinson, 22, said they were going to pray for his repentance after the suspect admitted he was turning himself in, sources close to the matter claim.
Around thirty hours after a single bullet claimed the life of the popular organizer, a message sent by a Discord account associated with Robinson said, “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all.”
“It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this,” he wrote, according to a member of the chat who shared screenshots with The Washington Post.
Robinson reportedly admitted, “im surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments,” just two hours before his arrest was announced.
“Thanks for all the good times and laughs, you’ve all been so amazing,” wrote Robinson.
“Thank you for everything.”
The chilling message was sent to a group of 30 close friends.
Charlie Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah[/caption]
Cops have since widened their investigation to determine the killer’s motive and are examining leftist groups in Utah and online to see if they were aware of the shooting before it took place.
Meanwhile, bombshell evidence and a note about plans to “take out” Charlie Kirk have been linked to the suspected assassin.
DNA evidence found on the towel wrapped around the suspected murder weapon matched 22-year-old Robinson, FBI Director Kash Patel revealed on Monday morning.
He said that DNA evidence found on the screwdriver left at the sniper’s nest matched that of Robinson’s, along with the towel found with the rifle.
The FBI director said that Robinson had a chilling text message exchange where he allegedly planned the killing.
“He claimed that he had an opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and he was going to do it, because of his hatred for what Charlie stood for,” Patel said.
Charlie Kirk’s rise to hero of the youth MAGA movement
CHARLIE Kirk transformed conservative youth activism from a marginal movement into a powerful force before his assassination on a college campus at 31.
Kirk was an American conservative political activist, author, and media personality who rose to prominence as the co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
He launched the organization in 2012 when he was just 18 years old, with the goal of promoting conservative principles to high school and college students and became a significant figure in American politics by building a massive grassroots network, framing himself as a “culture warrior.”
The rise of Turning Point USA
Turning Point USA’s mission was to counter what Kirk and his allies saw as liberal dominance on American college campuses.
It quickly grew to prominence through his use of provocative activism and viral social media campaigns.
They created watchlists of professors pushing leftist propaganda and organized events to debate students on controversial topics.
The strategy helped them gain a significant following and financial backing from wealthy conservative donors.
Kirk’s ability to connect with a new generation of conservatives was one of his most notable impacts.
He cultivated a style of political engagement that was heavily reliant on social media, podcasts, and confrontational public appearances.
His organization’s events, such as the annual Student Action Summit, drew thousands of young attendees and featured prominent conservative speakers, creating a new kind of political ecosystem for young people who felt alienated from traditional conservative groups.
A key ally of Donald Trump
Kirk also became a staunch supporter and ally of President Donald Trump.
He was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention and served as an aide to Donald Trump Jr. during the presidential campaign.
This relationship solidified his position within the Republican Party’s “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) wing, and his organization became an integral part of Trump’s political apparatus.
Through his popular podcast, “The Charlie Kirk Show,” and his frequent appearances on conservative media, Kirk was a powerful voice in the pro-Trump movement.
He often framed political issues as a “spiritual battle” between good and evil and championed a pugnacious, populist form of conservatism.
His influence was so significant that after Trump’s 2024 victory, Kirk was credited with helping to mobilize younger voters for the campaign.
Influence on culture and social issues
Beyond traditional politics, Kirk’s influence extended deeply into social and cultural issues.
He was a vocal opponent of “woke” ideology, particularly in education and media.
He promoted traditional values, often encouraging young women to prioritize becoming homemakers and mothers over professional careers.
Kirk also openly criticized programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
He was also a major proponent of Christian nationalism, arguing that there is no true separation of church and state in the United States.
The Turning Point Empire
Kirk’s activism led to the expansion of the Turning Point brand into a larger political and media empire.
He launched Turning Point Action, a political advocacy group focused on voter mobilization, and Turning Point Faith, aimed at engaging evangelical Christian communities in conservative politics.
These affiliated organizations allowed him to broaden his reach and influence beyond college campuses, into a more mainstream political force.
