George Zinn, a 71-year-old political gadfly who drew attention by falsely claiming responsibility at the scene of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was charged Tuesday with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after investigators said they found more than 20 images of children on his phone.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office said the images included children as young as 5 who were at least partially naked and posed in sexual ways. The agency alleged Zinn admitted he derived sexual gratification from viewing and sharing child sexual abuse material and told investigators his preferred victim age was between 5 and 12 years old. Zinn also faces a charge of obstruction of justice for shouting that he had shot Kirk, which investigators say briefly hindered response efforts at the Utah Valley University campus.
Authorities said Zinn approached police at the scene after Kirk was shot Sept. 10, yelling, "I shot him, now shoot me," despite being unarmed. He was taken into custody and later found not to be the gunman, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators later identified 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the alleged shooter. A probable cause affidavit released Sept. 12 said Robinson fired a single shot that struck Kirk in the neck during an event on Kirk’s "American Comeback Tour" at Utah Valley University. Robinson was arrested and is expected to be charged with aggravated murder and other state counts, according to law enforcement.
The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies said communications between Robinson and a roommate helped lead to his identification and arrest. Authorities have said evidence from the scene and the subsequent investigation are being reviewed as Robinson faces prosecution.
Kirk, 31, the founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA and a prominent figure in the MAGA movement, was pronounced dead after the shooting. His body was transported to Arizona aboard Air Force Two, accompanied by Vice President J.D. Vance, and a public funeral was scheduled for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Arizona. The slain activist is survived by his wife and two young children.
President Donald Trump and other national figures have publicly called for severe penalties in the case; Trump said the shooter should face the death penalty. Officials have not commented on potential federal charges, and prosecutors in Utah have said they will pursue state charges. The investigation into the shooting and related events remains active.
Zinn’s arrest on child exploitation charges adds a separate criminal dimension to an episode that initially sowed confusion at the shooting scene. The obstruction charge stems from the sheriff’s office account that Zinn’s outburst delayed response efforts while officers secured the campus and investigated multiple persons of interest.
Court filings and the sheriff’s office release list the sexual exploitation counts as involving the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors must file formal charging documents and are conducting additional evidence review before trial. Zinn’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The shooting and its aftermath prompted a multiagency response involving campus police, county sheriff’s offices and federal investigators. Authorities said they will continue to provide updates as charges are filed and as both the homicide and the exploitation investigations proceed.
