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George Zinn is being held on obstruction of justice charges, as well as separate counts of possessing child sexual abuse material.
Security personnel carrying right-wing youth activist and influencer Charlie Kirk after he was shot. (AFP)
A 71-year-old man who was briefly arrested after the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk is now accused of trying to help the suspected gunman escape by pretending to be the shooter, authorities said.
According to the BBC, Utah County Sheriff Michael Smith said George Zinn admitted to police that he had “yelled that he was the shooter to allow the actual suspect to flee”.
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The main suspect in Kirk’s killing is 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who allegedly acknowledged Zinn’s arrest in a message to his roommate, saying police had “grabbed some crazy old dude”.
The BBC report added that Zinn is being held on obstruction of justice charges, as well as separate counts of possessing child sexual abuse material. Police said he was one of two people detained for questioning after Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University on 10 September. Both were later cleared of involvement in the murder.
Sheriff Smith said Zinn “intentionally yelled he was the shooter and by doing so, obstructed Law Enforcement from focusing on the actual shooter”. Court filings allege Zinn shouted, “I shot him – now shoot me,” before refusing to reveal where the weapon was.
Authorities stressed there is no evidence Zinn colluded with the gunman. However, investigators found more than 20 exploitative images of children on his devices, the sheriff said. A judge has ordered Zinn be held without bail, describing him as a “substantial danger” to the community.
Zinn is a familiar figure at public events in Salt Lake City, according to the New York Times, which reported that he often disrupted forums or questioned high-profile speakers. His past criminal record includes a 2013 arrest for sending a threatening email to Salt Lake City Marathon organisers just days after the Boston Marathon bombing.
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Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ…Read More
Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ… Read More
September 17, 2025, 07:32 IST
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