An elderly Utah political activist who was first detained at the scene of the shooting that killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk told police he lied when he claimed to have shot Kirk, saying he intended to distract law enforcement so the actual shooter could escape, according to court and police documents.
George Zinn, 71, was taken into custody moments after Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck Wednesday at an event on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem. Zinn later told officers that he had made the false statement to draw attention from the shooter, and that he "wanted to be a martyr for the person who was shot," the documents say. He repeatedly asked to see his attorney before making the confession, was treated for a pre-existing medical condition at a hospital, and then was ordered Monday to be held without bail on a second-degree felony obstruction-of-justice charge. Police said resources were diverted to Zinn, harming the search for the shooter.
Authorities quickly clarified that Zinn was not the gunman and reversed an initial notice that suggested they had a suspect in custody. Footage shared on social media showed Zinn being detained as bystanders hurled abuse; witnesses were recorded shouting and one called him a "monster." Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill described Zinn as a long‑standing presence at Utah political events and said his office has prosecuted him on numerous misdemeanor charges dating back decades. Gill and court records detailed past arrests, including multiple trespassing charges and a 2013 case in which Zinn pleaded guilty after threatening to place bombs at a marathon finish line. The district attorney said his office had tried to get Zinn into mental‑health court in the past.
Investigators separately identified and arrested a 22‑year‑old man in connection with Kirk's death. Officials said it took about 33 hours to arrest the suspect; FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News that the arrest occurred at about 10 p.m. Thursday. Authorities located a high‑powered hunting rifle wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near the university and later said DNA from the towel matched the arrested man. Investigators also said DNA linked the suspect to a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where they allege the fatal shot was fired. Patel said agents recovered portions of a note written by the suspect indicating an intent to "take out" Kirk; he said investigators were able to reconstruct the note after it had been destroyed. The suspect has been identified publicly by authorities as 22‑year‑old Tyler Robinson.
Police and the FBI said they detained and later released two people who were unconnected to the investigation during the early phases of the probe. Officials released images and descriptions of a man they sought after the shooting and appealed to the public for help identifying him before naming and arresting Robinson. Investigators said family members assisted in locating the suspect.
Robinson has been charged in the killing, and authorities say he has not cooperated with law‑enforcement interviews. Utah law permits capital punishment for certain murders; former President Donald Trump has said he would like the death penalty imposed in the case. Investigators have not publicly filed charges seeking the death penalty and have not disclosed all evidence that remains under active investigation.
The shooting unfolded as Kirk, founder and CEO of the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA, was speaking at a Turning Point event hosted at the university. Kirk was rushed to a hospital after being shot in the neck and later died, according to authorities.
Zinn's long record of encounters with law enforcement drew public attention after the shooting. Media reports and court records show he has attended numerous political gatherings in Utah, including speeches and party events, and has been arrested at protests and public events in recent years. He was previously arrested in January on suspicion of trespassing after an incident at the Sundance Film Festival, and was reported to have been a courtroom spectator at the Kobe Bryant sexual‑assault trial in Colorado years earlier.
Prosecutors said Monday that they will pursue the obstruction charge against Zinn for allegedly taking officers away from searching for the shooter. Court appearances for Zinn are pending; Robinson remains in custody as the investigation continues and prosecutors review evidence for possible additional charges.
Officials urged anyone with additional information about the shooting or any related activity to contact local law enforcement. The investigation involves the Orem Police Department, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, which have provided periodic public updates as they process forensic evidence and interview witnesses.