In a shocking twist, a 71-year-old political activist from Utah admitted to falsely confessing to the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, claiming he did so to help the real gunman escape, as the Daily Mail reports.

This bizarre case unfolded as George Zinn's deception diverted police resources, while authorities later identified and arrested Tyler Robinson, 22, as the true suspect in Kirk's murder at Utah Valley University.

Last week, Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative commentator and activist, was shot in the neck at Utah Valley University, sparking an immediate investigation.

Unraveling a deceptive confession

Zinn, a well-known local activist, was detained shortly after the incident, initially leading authorities to believe they had the shooter in custody. The longtime agitator later admitted he lied about being the gunman, stating that his intent was to buy time for the actual killer to flee.

During his arrest, viral footage captured witnesses shouting "monster" and "How dare you?" as Zinn yelled back, "shoot me."

Behind Zinn's history of disruption

An officer at the scene remarked, "he said he shot him, but I don't know," reflecting the early confusion surrounding Zinn's claims.

Zinn, who was hospitalized for a pre-existing medical condition, told authorities he "wanted to be a martyr for the person who was shot."

After treatment, he was transferred to Utah County Jail, where a judge ordered him held without bail on Monday.

Legal consequences pending

Zinn now faces a second-degree felony charge of obstruction of justice for diverting police resources from the real suspect.

Officials later clarified that Zinn was not the shooter, correcting their initial statement about having a suspect in custody.

Additionally, Zinn was charged with trespassing as recently as Aug. 22, adding to his long list of offenses.

Public nuisance pattern emerges

Zinn is a familiar face in Utah's political scene, recognized by residents as a longtime libertarian conservative activist with numerous small-time arrests dating back to the 1980s.

District Attorney Sim Gill, who has prosecuted Zinn for decades, described him as someone who would "give me a hard time for being a Dem" and noted, "He's a person who can be odd, and has those kinds of odd behavior challenges." Gill added, "by and large, he's more of a gadfly than anything else," though Zinn's past includes a serious 2013 threat to plant bombs at the Salt Lake City Marathon, for which he served a year in jail after violating probation.

Tracking down the real culprit

While Zinn's actions caused delays, investigators shifted focus to Tyler Robinson, 22, who was arrested on Friday, 33 hours after the shooting, following the release of two unrelated individuals.

Authorities found a high-powered hunting rifle near the university, with DNA from a towel wrapped around it matching Robinson, alongside DNA on a screwdriver from the rooftop where the shot was fired.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced Robinson's arrest at 10 p.m. Thursday, revealing a note Robinson wrote before the shooting stating he "had an opportunity to take out Kirk and was going to do it."

Community, public officials respond

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox credited Robinson's family for assisting in the arrest, while Patel confirmed that Robinson has not cooperated with investigators. Investigators also released photos and clothing descriptions of the suspect to the public, seeking help in identifying the shooter.

Under Utah law, the death penalty is a possible punishment for this crime, a measure that President Donald Trump has publicly supported.

Reflections on troubling case

Zinn's history of political disruption includes attending high-profile events like Jenny Wilson’s 2023 "State of the County" address and even sleeping in a hotel cot with Ronald Reagan’s former education secretary in 1988. His past arrests, including a 2019 detention at a protest against the Utah Inland Port Authority and a January incident at the Sundance Film Festival, paint a picture of a persistent, if eccentric, public figure.

Meanwhile, as the investigation into Kirk's murder continues with Robinson in custody, the community grapples with the aftermath of a tragedy compounded by Zinn's deceptive actions.