In a shocking twist, a 71-year-old man who falsely confessed to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University now faces grave charges related to child exploitation.

This case intertwines a high-profile assassination with disturbing revelations, as George Zinn, initially arrested for obstruction of justice, admitted to possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material, while the man now charged in the case, Tyler Robinson, was later apprehended, as Breitbart reports.

Last week, chaos erupted on the campus of Utah Valley University when Kirk was fatally shot in front of a crowd. Immediately after the incident, George Zinn was seen shouting at police officers, drawing attention to himself. He yelled, “I shot him. Now shoot me.”

Unraveling the false confession

Zinn’s dramatic statement led many witnesses to believe the shooter had been caught. Meanwhile, the actual suspect, Robinson, managed to flee the scene. Zinn was arrested on the spot for his apparent involvement.

At the police station, Zinn experienced a medical issue and was taken to a nearby hospital. While there, he claimed his confession was a deliberate act “to draw attention from the real shooter,” as reported by FOX 13 Salt Lake City.

Authorities charged Zinn with a second-degree felony for obstruction of justice due to his misleading actions. He was subsequently booked into Utah County Jail. The Salt Lake Tribune noted that Zinn has a history of disrupting public events, often leading to arrests.

Disturbing new charges emerge

On Tuesday, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office released a statement revealing additional charges against Zinn. These charges were unrelated to the shooting but far more troubling in nature.

While in the hospital, Zinn admitted to law enforcement that he uses his phone to access child sexual abuse material.

He reportedly told agents there might be inappropriate images on his device, as stated in a UCSO press release.

Police obtained a search warrant for Zinn’s phone on Monday and handed the investigation over to the UCSO Special Victims Unit.

Their search uncovered over 20 images of children, aged between 5 and 12, in compromising and sexualized poses.

Graphic evidence uncovered

Further examination of the phone revealed explicit message threads where Zinn allegedly shared such content with others.

He reportedly confessed to deriving “sexual gratification” from viewing and distributing this material. Zinn also specified his preference for young children, according to authorities.

As a result, Zinn now faces four additional counts of second-degree felony sexual exploitation of a minor. He remains in custody at Utah County Jail as the legal process unfolds.

The UCSO clarified that there is currently no evidence suggesting Zinn had any direct connection to the actual shooter in Kirk’s case. “At this time, there is no information that George Zinn actually colluded with the shooter,” officials stated.

Prime suspect identified

While Zinn’s actions and charges dominate headlines, the investigation into Kirk’s assassination continued separately. Robinson was identified as the true suspect after his family turned him in to the authorities. He was arrested shortly thereafter.

The FBI confirmed its belief in Robinson’s involvement on Monday through forensic evidence. DNA samples matched Robinson to a towel covering the suspected murder weapon, hidden in the woods near the university. Additional DNA evidence was found on a screwdriver at a sniper position on a UVU rooftop.

The dual narratives of Zinn’s disturbing admissions and Robinson’s arrest have left the community reeling. As both cases progress, Utah County officials are working to ensure justice is served on all fronts. The tragic loss of Charlie Kirk remains at the heart of this complex story.