George Zinn, the 71-year-old man arrested after Charlie Kirk was shot, has admitted he was trying to distract the police so the real shooter could get away.
Zinn, a political activist from Utah, was arrested right after Kirk got hit by a bullet in the neck while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University last Wednesday. The conservative influencer was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.
Following the shooting, Zinn ran up to the police and shouted, “I shot him, now shoot me.” He was detained on the spot.
He was not armed and was not the one who fired the shot at Kirk. However, according to Conservative Brief, he later told police that he lied about his involvement, or lack thereof, in order to distract them so the actual shooter could escape.
The alleged gunman, who has since been identified as Tyler Robinson, did manage to get away on foot and may have still been at large had he not been persuaded to turn himself in.
George Zinn Has A History Of Arrests
Court documents note that George Zinn wanted to be a “martyr” and “draw attention away from the real shooter.”
The bogus confession delayed the investigation, misdirecting law enforcement during a critical period. Zinn has since been charged with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, and is being held without bail.
The 71-year-old is known locally as a “political gadfly” who attends protests or public events and is often removed for disruptive behavior. He has a lengthy arrest record and was convicted for threatening to bomb the Salt Lake City Marathon in 2013.
Zinn is said to have been dragged away with his pants down as he yelled, “Shoot me!” adding further confusion amid the chaos.
Meanwhile, Robinson remains under 24-hour surveillance in a secure facility after turning himself in, but has not been cooperating with the police.
