Man Who Falsely Confessed to Killing Charlie Kirk Sentenced to 15 Years
A Utah judge sentenced 71-year-old George Zinn to prison on Thursday after Zinn falsely claimed responsibility for the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and was later found in possession of child sexual abuse material.
Zinn pleaded guilty to three felony charges: obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony, and two second-degree felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. The judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently, meaning Zinn will serve between one and 15 years in prison, depending on a decision by the parole board.
Chaos erupted on September 10 at a college event in Utah when Kirk was shot and killed. In the immediate aftermath, Zinn shouted, “I shot him, now shoot me,” drawing the attention of law enforcement as they worked to identify and apprehend the actual shooter. When officers demanded to know where the gun was, Zinn refused to answer and repeated his false confession.
Authorities quickly detained Zinn and determined he had no connection to the killing. However, during a search of his phone, investigators discovered illegal materials involving minors, leading to additional charges. Zinn later attempted to downplay the discovery, claiming the material came from a public chatroom and insisting in court that he posed no danger to children.
Zinn’s behavior on the day of the shooting created a major distraction for first responders during the crucial moments after Kirk was assassinated. The following day, law enforcement arrested 26-year-old Tyler Robinson, who now faces seven charges related to the murder and could be sentenced to death if convicted.
The Robinson case has since taken a complicated turn. His defense attorneys are arguing that a conflict of interest exists because a Utah County prosecutor’s daughter was present at Utah Valley University during the assassination. Prosecutors maintain that the family member saw nothing of substance and that no conflict has been proven.
Judge Tony Graf allowed the defense to pursue their claims by questioning potential witnesses but stopped short of removing the county attorney’s office from the case. He also granted the defense request to block court video feeds from showing Robinson at the defense table, citing the risk that lip readers could gain access to confidential communications and undermine his right to a fair trial.
As the legal battle continues, Charlie Kirk’s assassination remains one of the most high-profile political killings in recent history. Supporters across the country continue to mourn the loss of the conservative activist, while attention now shifts to the upcoming legal proceedings against the alleged shooter.