Man falsely claimed he shot Kirk to distract from real gunman, police say

September 16, 2025

A 71-year-old man named George Zinn was arrested for obstruction of justice after falsely claiming responsibility for Charlie Kirk's assassination in an apparent attempt to help the actual suspect escape. Authorities say Zinn shouted that he was the shooter immediately following the shooting of the conservative commentator at Utah Valley University on September 10th. The primary suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has been charged with aggravated murder and other counts for the killing of Kirk, who was a prominent conservative activist and close ally of President Trump.

Who is affected

Charlie Kirk (assassination victim)
George Zinn (detained for obstruction and facing additional charges)
Tyler Robinson (prime suspect charged with aggravated murder)
Law enforcement officers investigating the case
Attendees at the Utah Valley University event
The conservative community who lost a prominent activist

What action is being taken

George Zinn is being held without bail by authorities
Tyler Robinson has been charged with seven counts including aggravated murder
Utah County Sheriff Michael Smith is investigating Zinn's obstruction of justice
Law enforcement is pursuing charges against Zinn for possession of child sexual abuse material
Authorities are examining whether there was any connection between Zinn and Robinson

Why it matters

The assassination of Charlie Kirk, a high-profile conservative activist and Trump ally, represents what President Trump called "a dark moment for America"
Zinn's deliberate obstruction potentially hindered police response in apprehending the actual shooter
The incident occurred at a university setting during a public event, raising concerns about security at political gatherings
The case involves complex circumstances with multiple suspects initially detained, highlighting challenges in responding to public violence
Kirk's prominence in conservative media and political circles makes his assassination a significant national event

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC