NEW: Elderly Man Arrested At Kirk Shooting Reveals He Was A Distraction

An elderly man initially arrested seconds after Charlie Kirk was shot told authorities he intended to be a distraction for the actual shooter to escape.

The shocking admission from a well-known progressive activist was made to federal authorities, who took the man into custody. Video from the Utah college campus where Kirk was shot showed the old man saying repeatedly, “I have the right to remain silent” as he was thrown to the ground and handcuffed.

But his stunt was meant to “draw attention away from the real shooter,” he confirmed.

71-year-old George Zinn, described as a gadfly by sources who spoke with a Fox affiliate in Utah, was led away in handcuffs shortly after Kirk was shot, taking resources away from searching for the real killer. He is a known presence at film screenings, political rallies, and other conservative gatherings, where he has caused disruptions and was quickly removed.

“Almost every political event you can think of, there was always George somewhere in the background, listening,” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told the Salt Lake Tribune.

“He’s a person who can be odd, and has those kinds of sometimes odd behavior challenges,” said Gill, who has prosecuted Zinn several times. “But by and large, he’s more of a gadfly than anything else.”

According to an internal report, Zinn reportedly yelled, “I shot him, now shoot me.” Police arrested Zinn even though he wasn’t carrying a gun.

“Shoot me!” he yelled as police dragged him away.

“He said he shot him, but I don’t know,” one officer is heard telling members of the crowd who gathered around the scene to yell and swear at Zinn as he was taken away.

Court records show that Zinn was taken to an area hospital, where he told investigators he “wanted to be a martyr for the person who was shot.”

He is charged with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony.

Sources told the Conservative Brief that Zinn served time in prison in 2013 for threatening to bomb the Salt Lake City Marathon.

There is no evidence yet to suggest that Zinn coordinated with Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspected gunman who surrendered to authorities late last week.

Robinson has been placed under “special watch” as prosecutors ready charges against him, which are expected to be announced in court on Tuesday afternoon. He is believed to be facing one count of aggravated murder, a charge that carries the death penalty in the state of Utah.

The local Fox station said Robinson confessed to his father, saying that he planned to kill himself after being arrested by authorities.