George Zinn: Child Exploitation Charges Against Man Who Disrupted Charlie Kirk Shooting Response

A Shocking Twist in the Kirk Assassination Case

The elderly man who allegedly hindered Utah authorities' response after Charlie Kirk was shot is now facing serious child exploitation charges. George Zinn, 71, was charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after investigators discovered disturbing content on his phone during the investigation of his actions at the Kirk shooting.

The Day of the Shooting

On September 10, when conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University, Zinn was one of two individuals initially detained by police. According to court documents filed by campus police, Zinn began shouting, "I shot him - now shoot me," creating confusion during the critical moments following the assassination.

Utah County Sheriff Michael Smith confirmed that Zinn later admitted to police that he had "yelled that he was the shooter to allow the actual suspect to flee." When officers asked him where the weapon was located, Zinn allegedly responded, "I am not going to tell you," further complicating the law enforcement response.

Discovery of Child Exploitation Material

During the investigation into Zinn's obstruction, authorities asked to examine his phone. According to the Utah County Sheriff's Office, Zinn consented to the search and, shockingly, admitted to using his device to view child sexual abuse images.

Investigators reported finding more than 20 images of children ranging from 5 to 12 years old "in various stages of undress and sexual posing." According to law enforcement, the images depicted children as young as 5 years old who were at least partially naked and "posing" in a "sexual" way.

The sheriff's office also alleges that Zinn had shared these photos with other individuals through text threads. He reportedly told police he derived sexual gratification from viewing and sharing the images.

Legal Proceedings

On Monday, a judge ordered that Zinn be held without bail, describing him as a "substantial danger" to the community. He faces one count of obstruction of justice in addition to the four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

No Connection to the Shooter

Despite Zinn's interference at the scene, Sheriff Smith stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting he colluded with Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old who has been charged as the primary suspect in Kirk's murder. Robinson appeared to acknowledge Zinn's initial arrest after the shooting, texting his roommate that police had "grabbed some crazy old dude."

A History of Disruption

According to the New York Times, Zinn is well-known among organizers of public events in Salt Lake City. "He showed up frequently to public forums with the intention to disrupt the event or question a high-profile speaker," the newspaper reported.

Zinn reportedly has a long history of minor crimes, including a 2013 arrest for sending threatening emails to the hosts of the Salt Lake City Marathon just days after the Boston Marathon bombing.

The Kirk Case Continues

Tyler Robinson, the prime suspect in Charlie Kirk's killing, was charged with seven counts including aggravated murder. The case continues to send shockwaves through the political landscape, with Kirk remembered as one of the highest-profile conservative activists and media personalities in the US, known for his outspoken views on gender, race, and gun rights, as well as being a close ally of President Donald Trump.