In the chaotic moments after Charlie Kirk was shot at Utah Valley University, a man approached a detective who was searching for the killer and yelled, “I shot him! Now shoot me.”
But that man, George Zinn, had nothing to do with Kirk’s death.
Now, the 71-year-old is going to prison for making the false claim, which authorities say diverted law enforcement’s attention when they were trying to find the actual shooter.
Zinn pleaded no contest on Thursday to a third-degree felony charge of obstruction of justice. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, admitting that police found child sex abuse materials on his phone when they questioned him on Sept. 10 after he claimed he had killed Kirk.
Fourth District Court Judge Thomas Low sentenced Zinn to spend up to 15 years in prison for the crimes: Two one-to-15 year terms for the second-degree felony exploitation charges, and a zero-to-five year sentence for obstruction. He will serve the terms concurrently.
In Utah, it’s up to the parole board to ultimately decide how much time Zinn will spend behind bars.
Zinn looked frail during his emotional sentencing, a blue jail jumpsuit and shackles hanging loose on his body, his glasses slightly askew.
He didn’t mention Kirk’s shooting when he read a statement in court before his sentencing. He told Low that the images found on his phone were part of a “chatroom dialogue with photos that are public access.”
“I wish the court to know I am not and will never be a danger to children or their parents,” he said.
Zinn said he has “every desire and commitment to change and lead a responsible and productive life,” adding that “nobody wants to excel more than me.”
“I want to put the past behind me and move forward,” he said before beginning to cry and asking his attorney to finish reading the letter.
Defense attorney Carly Madsen also became emotional as she spoke to the judge about Zinn.
“Mr. Zinn is an interesting man who led a very difficult life,” she said, “who never fit in. Never really got the love or attention he deserved. And never got the help he needed, resources that would that helped him years ago.”
Madsen continued: “It’s my hope in the future that Mr. Zinn is able to get the help he needs and the resources he needs.”
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) George Zinn appears at an arraignment hearing in 4th District Court in Provo on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. Zinn pleaded no contest to an obstruction of justice charge amid the Charlie Kirk shooting, and pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Before Kirk’s shooting, Zinn had a reputation as a Utah “gadfly,” a common sight at political events, protests or any gathering that would attract cameras and attention, including the Sundance Film Festival.
When a Tribune journalist informed Senate leadership of Zinn’s plea Thursday, Senate President J. Stuart Adams said that it was “too bad on all accounts.”
Chris Wilson, the Senate Republican whip, acknowledged he wanted to be careful with his comments, but he hoped Zinn “gets the help he needs.”
He was arrested Sept. 10, in the moments after Kirk was shot, and video of authorities carrying him from the scene spread rapidly online, with many believing in the immediate chaos that he was the shooter. Ultimately, police said Zinn did not match the description of the shooting suspect, and prosecutors believe another man fatally shot Kirk.
Tyler James Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder and other felonies in connection with Kirk’s death.
In the moments after Kirk was shot, Zinn yelled he was the shooter, according to a plea agreement. A detective arrested him and began searching him, asking where the gun was. The plea agreement states that Zinn stated, “I am not going to tell you where it is. I shot him, now shoot me.”
In the plea agreement document, Zinn admits that he “diverted the attention of multiple law enforcement officers from their efforts to secure the scene and find the actual shooter.”
After Zinn was arrested, investigators obtained a warrant and found that the man had saved illegal images of children on his phone, according to charging records. He would share them in chats with others, claiming the images were pictures of his daughters, the document alleges, adding that he also received similar images from others.
Tribune journalist Jeff Parrott contributed to this report.