An extraordinary twist in the chaotic minutes after the Charlie Kirk tragedy has deepened the mystery and anger surrounding the campus attack. Authorities arrested 71-year-old George Zinn moments after the shooting when video showed him loudly protesting as officers restrained him; investigators say Zinn admitted he intended to draw attention away from the real shooter so the ki**er could flee.
The original person of interest, George Zinn, 71, has allegedly confessed that he pretended to have shot Charlie Kirk to help the real killer escape.
He is being held without bond and charged with felony obstruction. pic.twitter.com/ltgCG5VAjJ
— National Conservative (@NatCon2022) September 16, 2025
Zinn, a longtime progressive gadfly known for disrupting political events and film screenings, repeatedly told officers “I have the right to remain silent” as he was handcuffed. But according to federal and local investigators, that was theater. During questioning at a nearby hospital, Zinn allegedly told agents he wanted to be a martyr for the victim and confirmed his goal had been to distract law enforcement. That confession landed him a second-degree felony obstruction charge.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, who has prosecuted Zinn before, described him to the Salt Lake Tribune as an odd but familiar presence: someone who shows up at events and causes scenes. “He’s a person who can be odd, and has those kinds of sometimes odd behavior challenges,” Gill said, noting Zinn’s tendency to pop up wherever political controversy brews. Court records reveal a troubling history: Zinn served time in 2013 related to a threat against the Salt Lake City Marathon, and law enforcement sources say he has a track record of alarming conduct.
Video from the scene captured the surreal moment when Zinn allegedly yelled, “I sh-t him, now sh–t me,” even though officers found no weapon on his person. Bystanders confronted him as he was led away, and officers had to manage a rapidly deteriorating crime scene amid a swarm of onlookers and media. Investigators say Zinn’s behavior — claiming responsibility, begging to be sht, and later admitting he meant to distract — diverted critical resources at a moment when every second counted.
George Zinn, 71, arrested at Charlie Kirk’s UVU event, falsely claimed he shot Kirk to distract police and aid the real shooter’s escape. He faces obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. pic.twitter.com/BIYyKJEcUS
— Catch Up (@CatchUpFeed) September 16, 2025
Officials emphasize that, so far, there is no evidence Zinn coordinated with the suspected gunman. Prosecutors are pursuing charges tied to obstruction and the deliberate disruption of a federal investigation. Meanwhile, police continue to piece together a timeline and separate Zinn’s stunt from the underlying crime itself.
The episode highlights a dangerous fringe phenomenon: individuals who insert themselves into violent incidents not to help or bear witness, but to stage attention-grabbing theatrics that hinder justice. Whether driven by delusion, a craving for notoriety, or something darker, the cost can be steep — lives, leads, and precious minutes lost.
As authorities press forward, Zinn’s prosecution will test how the legal system handles attention-seekers who cross the line into criminal obstruction. For a community still reeling, the priority remains clear: restore order, preserve evidence, and ensure that chaotic stunts don’t obstruct the search for truth.
He did this in a red state so he wont get some lenient left wing judge who would give him a pat on the hand.