Utah Man Sentenced After False Confession in Charlie Kirk Murder Case
A man who falsely confessed to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been sentenced to up to fifteen years in prison, following a plea deal that also addressed separate charges related to child sexual abuse material.
Court Hearing Concludes Complex Case
George Zinn, aged 71, appeared before Judge Thomas Low in a Provo, Utah courtroom on Thursday, bringing a close to a legal saga that began in September 2025. The hearing took place just five miles from Utah Valley University, where Charlie Kirk, the executive director of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a speaking engagement.
Zinn pleaded no contest to a third-degree obstruction of justice charge, which was reduced from an original second-degree allegation. This charge stemmed from his actions immediately after Kirk's shooting, when he reportedly screamed, "I shot him – now shoot me," at the campus scene. Video footage of Zinn being restrained by officers circulated online, initially leading many to believe he was the perpetrator.
Motivation Behind the False Confession
According to police documents, after experiencing a medical episode and being hospitalised, Zinn allegedly told officers he was "glad he said he shot the individual so the real suspect could get away." He further disclosed that he possessed illicit child sexual abuse material on his mobile phone and was concerned about investigators examining the device.
This admission led to additional charges of sexual exploitation of minors, connected to more than twenty images depicting child sexual abuse, including victims believed to be between five and twelve years old. Zinn also faced allegations of sharing explicit messages containing this imagery with others.
Sentencing and Parole Considerations
Judge Low sentenced Zinn to up to five years in prison for the obstruction plea. For the guilty plea on some of the sexual exploitation counts, Zinn received a sentence of one to fifteen years in prison, as first reported by Utah news outlets KSL and ABC 4. The exact duration of his imprisonment will ultimately be determined by a state parole board, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
Zinn's criminal history in Utah spans three decades, including a notable arrest in 2013. Days after the Boston Marathon bombing, he was allegedly apprehended for asking Salt Lake City marathon organisers if they needed help setting up bombs at the finish line.
Background on the Charlie Kirk Murder
The actual suspect in Kirk's killing, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with aggravated murder by Utah state prosecutors. Authorities have indicated they plan to seek the death penalty against Robinson, who has entered a not guilty plea. This incident was one of several high-profile cases of political violence in the United States during 2025.
Charlie Kirk, a prominent figure in conservative politics, was speaking at Utah Valley University when he was shot, an event that shocked political circles and highlighted ongoing tensions in American public discourse.
