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Man Who Falsely Confessed to Shooting Charlie Kirk Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison

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A bizarre and deeply troubling case out of Utah is drawing attention after an older man who falsely confessed to shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk was sentenced on unrelated charges and now faces up to 15 years in prison.

George Zinn, 71, was initially arrested in September after loudly claiming responsibility for a shooting incident involving Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during a campus event at Utah Valley University. At the time, video of Zinn being led away in handcuffs about an hour after the incident fueled widespread confusion and led many to believe the shooter had already been caught.

But police later determined Zinn was not responsible for the shooting. Instead, he had falsely confessed at the scene, repeatedly shouting, “I shot him. Now shoot me!” according to police documents cited by FOX 13 Salt Lake City. When officers did not respond with force, Zinn allegedly repeated the claim.

After being taken to the police station, Zinn reportedly admitted that he lied in order to “draw attention from the real shooter,” an explanation that only deepened the strangeness of the case. Authorities ultimately charged him with obstruction of justice.

On top of that, prosecutors say Zinn pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and entered a no-contest plea to a third-degree felony obstruction charge. Combined, the convictions carry a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

Notably, Zinn was never charged in connection with the actual shooting itself. Law enforcement emphasized that his arrest at the scene was the result of his false statements and disruptive conduct, not evidence tying him to the attack.

The case has raised unsettling questions about why someone would falsely confess to such a serious crime—especially in such a dramatic, public manner—and how quickly misinformation can spread when early images and assumptions take hold.

While the shooting investigation proceeded separately, Zinn’s actions added confusion to an already chaotic situation, making this one of the more unusual obstruction cases prosecutors say they’ve encountered in recent years.

Tyler Robinson, Accused in Charlie Kirk Killing, Smirks and Chuckles During First In-Person Court Appearance, With Family in Tow

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The man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk looked calm and chuckled with his lawyers as he made his first in-person court appearance – as a judge named Erika Kirk as the official victim representative for her slain husband.

Tyler Robinson, 22, was brought into the Provo, Utah, courtroom wearing a simple blue button-down and argyle tie as his lawyers argued that media shouldn’t be allowed to film his hearings, claiming they could potentially taint a jury and bring “chaos” to the trial.

“We don’t want the chaos that is out in the media in this courtroom,” Robinson’s attorney, Staci Visser, told the court.

Judge Tony Graf was also set to decide whether parts of a transcript from a phone hearing in October — which determined Robinson could wear street clothes in court — could be made public.

Graf ultimately deferred judgment on both matters after closing the hearing for more than two hours for private arguments. He then scheduled a hearing for Dec. 29 to make his final ruling. (Read more from “Tyler Robinson, Accused in Charlie Kirk Killing, Smirks and Chuckles During First In-Person Court Appearance, With Family in Tow” HERE)

Erika Kirk Urges an End to Conspiracy Theories Surrounding Charlie’s Killing

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Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, used a Wednesday appearance on Fox News’ Outnumbered to directly address — and firmly reject — the conspiracy theories circulating online about her husband’s death.

Speaking publicly about the issue for the first time, Kirk said the speculation has become a harmful distraction as she and her team continue cooperating with investigators.

Kirk compared the online noise to a biblical story from the Book of Nehemiah, saying she feels called to stay focused on “building” rather than responding to people “calling down” from the sidelines. “My silence does not mean complacency,” she said. “Every time we hear a lead, anything at all, we send it to the authorities. No stone will be left unturned. I want justice for my husband more than anyone.”

While she said she can tolerate criticism directed at her personally, she drew a firm line at attacks on her staff and colleagues. According to Kirk, members of the Turning Point team — some of whom witnessed Charlie Kirk’s killing — have been overwhelmed with threats and harassment sparked by widely shared online theories accusing staff of involvement.

“When you go after my Turning Point USA family… claiming they’re somehow part of this, that’s where it ends,” she said, noting that some content creators are profiting from pushing those accusations. “This is a mind virus,” she added, describing the emotional toll the conspiracies have taken on the team. “My team is exhausted. They have death threats, kidnapping threats — you name it.”

Fox News host Harris Faulkner observed that Kirk appeared more forceful than usual. Kirk replied that what viewers were seeing was “righteous anger,” fueled by the pain her team relives each time new conspiracies spread. “Why should they have to retraumatize themselves every day?” she asked.

Kirk ended the segment with a direct message to those spreading the theories: “If people thought I was going to shrink into a corner, they were wrong. I will honor my husband’s legacy and never back down. My message is simple: stop.”

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

After Charlie Kirk Assassination, 9 In 10 College Kids Still Think The Real Violence Is Words

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Even in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, 91 percent of college students still believe that words can actually be considered violence, and a growing number of college students also believe that real, physical violence can be used to shut down speech.

A new survey from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) tested college students’ views on speech in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination, finding an overwhelming 91 percent majority equated words with violence. A still massive 79 percent majority expressed some degree of agreement with the belief that silence — saying nothing — can be a form of violence as well.

Put another way, only 9 percent of college students in America believe words are not violence, and only 21 percent believe you do not need to parrot politically correct propaganda in order to be considered non-violent.

Those numbers need to be understood in the context of nearly 40 percent of college students agreeing with the statement “If someone is using hate speech or making racially charged comments, physical violence can be justified to prevent this person from espousing their hateful views,” according to a 2025 survey from the Buckley Institute.

FIRE has tracked a similar phenomenon, finding in 2020 that about 20 percent of students justified violence in response to speech and in 2024 that number had increased to about 34 percent. FIRE’s new survey saw only a slight decrease to 32 percent of students supporting political violence to stop a speaker. (Read more from “After Charlie Kirk Assassination, 9 In 10 College Kids Still Think The Real Violence Is Words” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Charlie Kirk’s Security Chief Claims He Was Hamstrung On Day Of Assassination

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The owner of the company providing security for Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk on the day of his assassination said in an interview posted Monday that he was hamstrung by federal and state laws while trying to secure the event where Kirk was assassinated.

Kirk was gunned down during a Sept. 10 TPUSA “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University, during which he was debating attendees. Brian Harpole of Integrity Security Solutions told podcaster Shawn Ryan during Monday’s episode of “The Shawn Ryan Show” he had acquired certificates to pilot drones, but was unable to use them due to federal and state regulations.

“I spent thousands of dollars on drones last year and got my guys licenses,” Harpole said. “But if the area lies in the Provo, Utah, airspace, I can’t fly. It’s a 107B, we can’t break the rules.”

Title 14, Chapter I, Subchapter F, Part 107, Subpart B has restrictions on operating drones, including a prohibition on flying them over people who do not have shelter should the drone crash. Utah state laws require compliance with the federal regulations, according to UAVCoach.com.

“And then you had secondary restrictions, probably due to heavy foot traffic with the school,” Harpole added. “But I can’t go in and break the rules. There’s laws for a reason. And so, now the school could have flown drones, the PD, but they didn’t have them. But Orem PD has a drone unit, active, professional and that police department, I will tell you, is awesome. They were there, they helped, both on the soft side and the hard side.” (Read more from “Charlie Kirk’s Security Chief Claims He Was Hamstrung On Day Of Assassination” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Gay Furry Socialist Who Loves 9/11 Might Be The Most Batsh*t Democratic Candidate Yet

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A candidate for the Democratic nomination in a competitive congressional district celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk and said the United States deserved the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack.

Samuel Smeltzer, an IT specialist who identifies as a honey badger and goes by the name “Elyon Badger,” has a history of violent posts on BlueSky, a left-leaning competitor to X, formerly known as Twitter, the Washington Free Beacon reported. He is running for the House of Representatives in Michigan’s Seventh Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Rep. Tom Barrett, according to the outlet.

Smeltzer, who has also praised the assassinations of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk and United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson, once posted to BlueSky about being banned from X for saying the U.S. deserved the 9/11 attacks carried out by the radical Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda.

How can we defeat evil, if evil is mourned when it’s defeated?

(Repost because it was reported)

[image or embed]

— Elyon113 (@elyon113.bsky.social) September 15, 2025 at 7:24 AM

“Well that’s gone for good I think,” Smeltzer posted on BlueSky on Oct. 25, 2024, showing a screenshot of the notice he had been banned from X for saying “America deserved 9/11 I agree.”

On the day Kirk was assassinated, Smeltzer posted an image of a skeleton wearing a Nazi hat.“I for one, celebrate the death of every Nazi,” he said.

I'm for putting every member of ICE in the alligator alcatraz

OFFICIAL POLICY OF MY CAMPAIGN, when I get elected, every member of ICE is going to the gulags they built.

[image or embed]

— Elyon113 (@elyon113.bsky.social) October 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM

(Read more from “Gay Furry Socialist Who Loves 9/11 Might Be The Most Batsh*t Democratic Candidate Yet” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Charlie Kirk Suspect’s Trans Lover Lance Twiggs Goes Missing 6 Weeks After Political Assassination

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The transgender lover of Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer has seemingly vanished from his hometown six weeks after the political assassination that shook the country.

Lance Twiggs, 22, has been on the down-low since his boyfriend Tyler Robinson allegedly shot the Turning Point USA co-founder dead and then sent Twiggs a string of text messages confessing to the slaying, according to feds. . .

Authorities previously said that he is cooperating with authorities, but Twiggs has refused to speak with media while Robinson awaits trial in a Salt Lake City jail cell. . .

It is unclear whether Twiggs is living with his parents or is even still in St. George — four hours from Utah Valley University, where Charlie Kirk was killed.

Twiggs’ car, an Inifinii FX35, is now parked in his parents’ driveway.

Jesse Riley, who lives just a few houses down from Twiggs’ and Robinson’s apartment, said he couldn’t recall seeing any activity from the property since Robinson, also 22, turned himself over to the cops. (Read more from “Charlie Kirk Suspect’s Trans Lover Lance Twiggs Goes Missing 6 Weeks After Political Assassination” HERE)

Photo credit: Lance Twiggs/ TikTok

Judge Rules Accused Charlie Kirk Shooter Can Wear Civilian Clothes — But Must Remain Restrained in Court

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A Utah judge has ruled that the man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk may wear civilian clothing in court but must remain restrained during proceedings.

Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of gunning down Kirk, 31, on September 10 while the Turning Point USA cofounder and close ally of former President Donald Trump was speaking to students at Utah Valley University in Orem. Robinson, who later turned himself in, faces aggravated murder and multiple felony charges, with prosecutors pursuing the death penalty.

At a hearing on October 27, Judge Tony Graf ruled that Robinson “shall be dressed as one who is presumed innocent” during all pretrial appearances but denied the defense’s request to remove restraints entirely. Graf acknowledged that Robinson has no prior criminal history and has behaved appropriately while in custody but said the “extraordinarily serious” nature of the case, coupled with heightened public emotion, justified additional precautions.

“The court must balance the presumption of innocence with the need to maintain order and safety,” Graf said in his decision. He ordered the sheriff’s office to use the least restrictive restraints possible and barred the media from photographing or filming the restraints to prevent potential juror bias.

Robinson’s defense team had argued that appearing in shackles or inmate attire could prejudice potential jurors and violate his right to a fair trial. They cited precedent from the Bryan Kohberger case — the convicted murderer of four University of Idaho students — where the defendant was temporarily allowed to appear in civilian clothes.

Prosecutors, however, opposed Robinson’s motion, citing security details that have not been made public due to the high-profile nature of the case. The matter was discussed in a closed-door hearing on October 24.

The Utah County Sheriff’s Office had suggested Robinson could appear remotely for some noncritical hearings to minimize concerns over public perception. Defense attorneys objected, arguing that virtual appearances would infringe on Robinson’s constitutional rights and limit his ability to communicate with his legal team.

Both the prosecution and defense agreed that media coverage should be limited, particularly photo and video recordings, to avoid further prejudicing the jury pool. Robinson’s attorneys said extensive pretrial coverage had already “relentlessly focused on Mr. Robinson’s demeanor and appearance” and risked undermining his right to an impartial trial.

Judge Graf also ruled in favor of a defense motion challenging a joint filing made by the sheriff’s office and prosecutors, calling it procedurally improper. However, he declined to issue an immediate ruling on broader questions regarding a media ban or remote hearings.

Graf emphasized that the proceedings will remain open to the public, instructing attorneys from both sides to submit separate motions on those issues.

Questions Arise Over Alleged Google Searches Before Charlie Kirk Killing

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In the days following the shocking murder of right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk, social media has become a breeding ground for speculation — and now, one particularly unusual theory is gaining attention online.

While rumors about who ordered or carried out Kirk’s killing have ranged from political plots to faked-death claims, this new theory doesn’t focus on the people directly involved. Instead, it looks at Google search data — and suggests that someone may have known about the alleged killer, Tyler James Robinson, before Kirk’s death.

The Google Trends Conspiracy Theory

The theory began circulating on TikTok, where a creator claimed that Google Trends data shows an odd pattern of searches leading up to the tragedy. According to the video, Kirk was murdered on September 10, 2025, but there were Google searches for “Tyler James Robinson” from the Washington, D.C. metro area a full day earlier — on September 9, 2025.

@5149jamesli

This is probably nothing… 🤷‍♂️

♬ Mysterious and sad BGM(1120058) – S and N

That’s significant because the public didn’t learn Robinson’s name until September 11 and 12, after authorities identified him as the suspect. The TikToker shared screenshots purporting to show a small spike in searches for Robinson before his name was publicly known, suggesting that someone “knew” about him in advance.

The theory also claims there was a small spike in searches for “Losee Center” — the building where Robinson allegedly took aim at Kirk — on September 8, two days before the shooting.

Adding another twist, the TikToker alleged that a rare firearm used in the killing also saw an unexplained surge in searches on August 27, again traced to the Washington, D.C. area.

Missing Data Raises More Questions

However, when users tried to verify these claims, they hit a roadblock. The TikToker who shared the theory claimed that the graphs they used in their video — supposedly screenshots of historical Google Trends data — “no longer appear.”

Independent checks confirm that these specific search trends do not currently show up on Google Trends. Whether the data ever existed or was fabricated remains unclear.

Still, that hasn’t stopped people from speculating. Some users believe the data was “scrubbed” after drawing too much attention, while others think the entire claim was built on doctored screenshots.

Online Reactions and Skepticism

Another pushed back, arguing that the supposed screenshots don’t match Google’s actual Trends design, colors, or font. “The graphs are fake,” they wrote.

But not everyone is convinced they’re fake. One user claiming to have over a decade of experience in Google search analytics responded, “Only the red frame was added, in my opinion. My expertise is 13 years of Google search marketing.”

The data cited in the viral TikTok video cannot be independently confirmed, and Google has not made any statements about it.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Explosive Claim Around Charlie Kirk’s Killing Sparks MAGA Civil War

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While the killing of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk last month launched a flurry of conspiracy theories, an explosive new claim made Monday by one of Kirk’s former associates has sparked a civil war among the MAGA right.

“Charlie was done with Israel bullying him, and I am now going to present to you proof of what I am saying,” said far-right influencer Candace Owens on Monday. “This is an actual group chat which happened two days before Charlie Kirk was assassinated.”

Owens went on to share an image of an alleged group chat that included Kirk and eight other individuals, naming just one of the other eight: Rob McCoy, the co-chair of Kirk’s conservative advocacy organization Turning Point USA.

In the text messages, Kirk allegedly complained about having “lost another huge Jewish donor,” something that would cost him “$2 million a year” because he insisted on inviting Tucker Carlson – an outspoken critic of the United States’ support for Israel – to an upcoming Turning Point event.

That donor is suspected to be conservative billionaire Robert Shillman, largely due to a New York Times report last week that said Shillman had “angrily questioned Kirk for giving a platform to Carlson,” and that he had informed Kirk he would be withdrawing a $2 million pledge to Turning Point, an account that lines up with Kirk’s alleged comments. (Read more from “Explosive Claim Around Charlie Kirk’s Killing Sparks MAGA Civil War” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr