George Zinn, a known political activist, falsely claimed he shot Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University to \u201cdraw attention away from the real shooter,\u201d according to Fox 13 Utah. The 71-year-old was handcuffed and led away after yelling at police, \u201cI shot him, now shoot me.\u201d During an interview, Zinn admitted he did not kill Kirk but wanted to be a martyr and distract authorities.<\/p>\n
Zinn now faces additional charges after authorities found over 20 images of child sexual abuse on his phone. He initially refused to let detectives examine his device, which delayed the investigation. He was arrested for obstruction of justice and sexual exploitation of children.<\/p>\n
Video from the chaotic scene shows Zinn being dragged away by police while shouting, confusing the crowd who thought he was the shooter. Known as a \u201cgadfly,\u201d Zinn frequently appears at political events and protests but is often removed for trespassing.<\/p>\n
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill described Zinn as odd but more of a nuisance than a serious threat. Zinn also spent a year in jail in 2013 for bomb threats.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Tyler Robinson, charged with Kirk\u2019s murder, appeared virtually for his first court hearing. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty. Police say Robinson became more radicalized in the past year, partly influenced by his relationship with a roommate undergoing gender transition.<\/p>\n