Old Man Who Falsely Claimed He Shot Kirk Wanted To Help Shooter Escape: Docs

The murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk continues to unravel with new revelations, including the bizarre arrest of a political activist who falsely claimed he pulled the trigger.

According to Fox 13 Utah, 71-year-old George Zinn, a well-known local gadfly, rushed up to police moments after Kirk was shot at Utah Valley University last Wednesday and shouted, “I shot him, now shoot me.” Officers quickly subdued him, discovering he was unarmed.

During questioning, Zinn admitted he had not killed Kirk but claimed he wanted to “draw attention away from the real shooter” and even described himself as a would-be “martyr for the person who was shot,” according to court filings.

Authorities say the stunt slowed the investigation at a critical moment, wasting manpower and fueling public confusion as video footage showed Zinn being dragged away in handcuffs while screaming, “Shoot me!”

He now faces a felony obstruction of justice charge.

Zinn has a long history of disruptive behavior. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill described him as a familiar nuisance at political events. “He’s a person who can be odd, and has those kinds of sometimes odd behavior challenges,” Gill told the Salt Lake Tribune. “But by and large, he’s more of a gadfly than anything else.”

Court records show Zinn even spent a year in jail in 2013 for threatening to bomb the Salt Lake City Marathon. So far, authorities say there is no evidence linking him to Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk.

Meanwhile, Robinson remains behind bars in Utah under “special watch” as he awaits a mental health evaluation. He was captured after a 33-hour manhunt, ending when his father recognized him in FBI surveillance footage and persuaded him to turn himself in. According to Fox News, Robinson told his father he intended to kill himself before surrendering. His father, consulting with a family pastor, ultimately guided him to law enforcement.

Despite family cooperation, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed Sunday that Robinson is refusing to speak with investigators. By contrast, his romantic partner — a man transitioning from male to female — has been assisting authorities.

Those close to Robinson told officials he had been “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology” in recent years, clashing politically with his conservative family.

FBI Director Kash Patel revealed damning digital evidence on Fox News, including text messages in which Robinson declared he had an “opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk” and was “going to do it.”

Forensic teams have also tied Robinson directly to the murder weapon and sniper’s perch. Patel confirmed DNA recovered from a screwdriver left on the rooftop and a towel used to wrap the firearm both matched Robinson.

The combined evidence paints a picture of premeditation and political hatred — a targeted assassination carried out against one of America’s most outspoken conservative leaders.