Man Who Falsely Claimed To Have Shot Charlie Kirk Now Faces Child Porn Charges

A man detained at Utah Valley University shortly after the killing of Charlie Kirk now faces new charges after police allegedly found child sex abuse material on his phone.George Zinn was in the crowd at the event and yelled that he was the shooter “to allow the actual suspect to flee.”Mr. Zinn, 71, was taken into custody at the scene of the shooting after allegedly telling police, twice, “I shot him, now shoot me.” Images of Mr. Zinn’s arrest quickly spread on the internet, leading to incorrect reports that the shooter had been taken into custody.George Zinn — the man who falsely told police he shot Charlie Kirk moments after the attack — has now been charged with possessing child porn.📖 https://t.co/2QjnlQy9El pic.twitter.com/dm8hisoGl4— TMZ (@TMZ) September 16, 2025Mr. Zinn suffered a medical emergency at the scene and was taken to a hospital.While at the hospital he allegedly told FBI investigators he had lied and was not Kirk’s killer. The Utah County Sheriff’s Office says Mr. Zinn allowed investigators to look at his phone and they allegedly found numerous images of child sex abuse.Mr. Zinn then allegedly admitted he uses his phone “to look at child sexual abuse material,” the sheriff’s office says. Investigators reported finding more than 20 images of child pornography with children as young as 5.Mr. Zinn was released from the hospital and promptly booked into the Utah County Jail, the same facility where Tyler Robinson, who now faces capital murder charges in Kirk’s death, was sent.Authorities say there is no evidence that Mr. Zinn colluded with the shooter, but he faces charges of obstruction of justice and sexual exploitation of a minor. A motion has been filed to hold Mr. Zinn without bail, KSL-TV reported. It was unclear if he had a lawyer.Mr. Zinn has been arrested several times, mostly for trespassing in political spaces, according to the TV station. He also was accused of making a terrorist threat in 2013 after allegedly emailing Salt Lake City Marathon organizers asking if they “needed anybody to help place bombs near the finish line.”

Man Who Falsely Claimed To Have Shot Charlie Kirk Now Faces Child Porn Charges

Man Who Falsely Claimed To Have Shot Charlie Kirk Now Faces Child Porn Charges

More from the New York Sun

Voting Made Easier for Rikers Island Inmates And 7,000 in New York City Jails

Democrat Blames Loss to El-Sayed on Fake Polling as Wedgewood’s ‘Social Experiment’ Exposes the ‘Pollercoaster’

Trump Says He Told Ramaswamy To Run Ad Featuring Opponent’s Estranged Mother Excoriating Sexually Abused Daughter

Exclusive: Elon Musk’s Employees Lose Enthusiasm for Democrats, Company Donations Disclose

Eyes Turn to Mississippi Senate Races Where Both Parties Are Now Investing Millions, as Trump, Harris Travel to State

Wealth-Tax Advocate Gabriel Zucman Coaxes California Closer to French Fiscal Folly

Stakes Are High as Supreme Court Weighs Whether To Let Trump Deport Mahmoud Khalil

Apple’s HomeView Is the Best Smart Display Yet — but You Still May Not Need It

More from the New York Sun

Voting Made Easier for Rikers Island Inmates And 7,000 in New York City Jails

Democrat Blames Loss to El-Sayed on Fake Polling as Wedgewood’s ‘Social Experiment’ Exposes the ‘Pollercoaster’

Trump Says He Told Ramaswamy To Run Ad Featuring Opponent’s Estranged Mother Excoriating Sexually Abused Daughter

Exclusive: Elon Musk’s Employees Lose Enthusiasm for Democrats, Company Donations Disclose

Eyes Turn to Mississippi Senate Races Where Both Parties Are Now Investing Millions, as Trump, Harris Travel to State

Wealth-Tax Advocate Gabriel Zucman Coaxes California Closer to French Fiscal Folly

Stakes Are High as Supreme Court Weighs Whether To Let Trump Deport Mahmoud Khalil

Apple’s HomeView Is the Best Smart Display Yet — but You Still May Not Need It