The man who falsely claimed responsibility for the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University will now spend years behind bars, after admitting his actions deliberately disrupted a live murder investigation.
George Zinn, 71, was sentenced Thursday to zero to five years in prison after pleading no contest to a reduced obstruction of justice charge. Prosecutors said Zinn intentionally injected himself into the chaos moments after Kirk was shot and killed, diverting officers at a critical time and fueling widespread public confusion.
According to court records, Zinn approached a detective immediately after the gunshot rang out during the Turning Point USA event and declared, “I shot him, now shoot me.” When asked to surrender the weapon, Zinn refused, repeatedly demanding that officers kill him. He was quickly placed in handcuffs as tensions escalated and bystanders threatened him, believing the killer had been caught.
Investigators later confirmed Zinn was not the shooter. But by falsely confessing, he forced multiple officers to focus on him instead of securing the scene and tracking down the real suspect. Video of his arrest spread rapidly online, leading many to believe the case was already solved.
The deception didn’t end there. After being taken to a hospital for chest pain, Zinn reportedly told officers he was glad he had claimed responsibility so the real shooter could escape. He described his actions as an attempt to become a “martyr” for the man who was killed, according to a police booking affidavit.
JUST SENTENCED: The man who falsely claimed he shot Charlie Kirk just minutes after the attack has been sentenced to up to 15 YEARS in prison – not just for obstructing justice, but also for multiple child exploitation charges.
He allegedly admitted he was paid to create a… pic.twitter.com/wRg55cakRU
— Tony Lane
(@TonyLaneNV) January 30, 2026
(@TonyLaneNV) While in custody, Zinn also admitted his phone contained child pornography. That admission led to a separate investigation and additional charges. Police later reported finding explicit images on his device, resulting in four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. As part of a plea deal, Zinn pleaded guilty to two of those counts and received two prison terms of one to 15 years. All three sentences, including the obstruction charge, will be served concurrently.
The plea agreement also dismissed a separate theft charge filed earlier this year.
Zinn’s criminal history stretches back decades. State court records show repeated arrests, largely tied to trespassing in political spaces. In 2013, he drew national attention after being charged with making a threat of terrorism for sending an email asking whether Salt Lake City Marathon organizers “needed anybody to help place bombs near the finish line.”
Meanwhile, the murder case itself continues. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Kirk, a Turning Point USA co-founder and prominent conservative voice.
Kirk’s killing sent shockwaves through political circles nationwide, raising serious concerns about security at political events. Prosecutors emphasized that Zinn’s conduct was not a misguided stunt but a deliberate attempt to interfere with justice at the worst possible moment.
Judge Thomas Low agreed, handing down a sentence that ensures Zinn will be removed from the public sphere for years to come.
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