Nearly a week after American right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead during an event at Utah Valley University, new details about the incident are emerging. According to the BBC, authorities have arrested George Zinn, a 71-year-old man who was briefly detained moments after the assassination of Charlie Kirk last Wednesday. On September 10, 2025, George Zinn reportedly tried to thwart authorities by falsely confessing to the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA's executive director, Charlie Kirk. Authorities say his actions on that day seemingly helped Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old prime suspect in the murder, to escape. According to The Guardian, Zinn was arrested on Monday, September 15, 2025, and faces a charge of obstructing justice, a second-degree felony. He has also reportedly been charged in connection with concerning images on his cellphone depicting child abuse. Meanwhile, shortly after the shooting at Utah Valley University, Zinn was detained for yelling:“I shot him, now shoot me.”According to The Guardian, Utah Valley University campus police filed documents detailing George Zinn’s actions. Meanwhile, videos of officers holding the 71-year-old down were widely shared on social media. The videos allegedly led some people to believe that authorities had successfully arrested the suspect.How did George Zinn allegedly fake being the real suspect in Charlie Kirk's assassinationIn an article published on Tuesday, The Guardian reported that Zinn was hesitant when an officer asked him about the gun used in the attack. When questioned about the weapon, the 71-year-old allegedly replied:“I am not going to tell you.”However, the authorities also detailed that George later admitted he was not the shooter. According to the authorities, the 71-year-old allegedly claimed to be the real shooter in an attempt to become “a martyr” for Kirk and to divert attention from the actual killer. The documents, along with a statement from authorities, revealed that Zinn was "glad he said he shot the individual so the real suspect" could escape. Charlie Kirk (Image via Getty)George Zinn was one of two people detained by police on the day of the attack on conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. He also reportedly has a history of criminal charges and convictions in Utah. As per KSL, the man was arrested in 2013 after he allegedly asked Salt Lake City marathon organizers if he could help with setting up bombs at the finish line. Notably, the 2013 Boston marathon bombing killed three people and injured hundreds. Meanwhile, as per The Guardian, online court records reveal that a judge had also ordered George Zinn to be held without bail on Monday.For the unversed, the police announced the arrest of Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer, Tyler Robinson, on Friday. The 22-year-old was captured after a two-day manhunt and was reportedly charged with seven counts, including aggravated murder, on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump was the first to announce Kirk's death via Truth Social. The late conservative political activist was a close ally of Trump.