Following the fatal shooting of political activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, a 71-year-old local activist named George Zinn falsely claimed responsibility for the attack. According to police reports, Zinn approached officers immediately after the shooting, declaring, \u201cI shot him, now shoot me.\u201d Officers arrested him on the spot, though he was unarmed and not involved in the actual crime.<\/p>\n
During questioning, Zinn admitted he did not shoot Kirk but said he made the claim to \u201cdraw attention away from the real shooter.\u201d Court documents also reveal that he wanted to be a “martyr” for Kirk. Zinn\u2019s actions disrupted the early stages of the investigation and diverted police resources during a critical time. He has been charged with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony.<\/p>\n
Zinn is known locally as a persistent political presence, often attending public events and sometimes being removed for disruptive behavior. Prosecutors describe him as eccentric but generally not dangerous. In 2013, he served jail time for threats related to a major public event, but officials say there’s no current evidence connecting him to Tyler Robinson, the actual suspect in Kirk\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
He is charged with obstruction of justice, which is a second-degree felony.<\/p>\n