Who Killed Charlie Kirk?: Photographs of All Twelve Suspects and Persons of Interest in the Shooting

I. Introduction

      On Wednesday, September 10th, 2025, conservative political commentator, podcaster, debater, and public intellectual Charlie Kirk was shot to death at an event in Utah.
     Twenty-two-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested, and is currently the prime suspect. Utah police confidently proclaimed "We got him".
     However, several other people, aside from Robinson, were apprehended, or suspected by police and/or researchers, at various times since Kirk was shot. In fact, there are at least ten other suspects - or suspected origin points of the bullet that killed Kirk - in addition to Tyler Robinson.

II. First Six Suspects, Persons of Interest, and Possible Origin Points of the Bullet

     1. George Zinn

     The first person arrested by police was George Zinn, a seventy-one-year-old bald white man, who reportedly tried to "distract" police, after the shooting, by shouting that he was the one who did it.
     Police said they released Zinn after they had "determined" (without a trial) that Zinn was not the shooter.
     Rumors have circulated, alleging that Zinn gave a talk regarding September 11th, and reported suspicious activity to the police, at the 2013 Boston Marathon (which was bombed).
     Zinn is reportedly a Jewish-American. On September 16th or 17th, rumors that Zinn possessed child sexual abuse images on his phone, began circulating online.

     2. Michael Mallinson

     Some people interested in the story subsequently identified the bald older white man, wearing glasses, who was arrested at the Kirk event, as Michael Mallinson, a registered Democrat. But it's possible that this identification was inaccurate, due to the similar appearance between Mallinson and Zinn.

     3. "Rat-Face Guy" with Sunglasses and Hat

     Another white man - this one younger and wearing sunglasses - was filmed in the area at the time. The infographic below will refer to him as "Rat-Face Guy", since his name is not known.

     4. Tyler Robinson

     Tyler Robinson, age twenty-two, is currently in custody, and is the prime suspect in Kirk's murder.
     Robinson's support of Trump during the 2020 election was noted during Kirk's memorial services. Robinson evidently began supporting the Democratic Socialists of America some time in the past four years.
     Robinson allegedly confessed to the murder on the social media application Discord, saying "It was me at UVU yesterday", two hours before he was apprehended on the evening of Thursday, September 11th (although some have suggested that such a confession, posted online, could easily be faked). In this supposedly real "confession", Robinson ostensibly stated that the second person arrested, after George Zinn, was someone with "similar clothes"; although it's not clear whether Robinson meant that the second arrestee was dressed like Zinn or dressed like Robinson. The full quote read, "they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing".
     The notion that Robinson is guilty, as charged, has prompted speculation that possible motivations for the shooting may have included Robinson's sexuality, his romantic relationship with a male-to-female transgender or transsexual "furry", homophobia or internalized homophobia, and/or a possible desire to protect or avenge his trans significant other.

     5. Kirk's Bodyguard (in Dark Shirt)

     Two other suspects in Kirk's murder were standing on the stage with him. One was his bodyguard, or one of his bodyguards. This man was wearing a dark-colored shirt - of either black or gray or perhaps dark green - and was holding either a cell phone or a pistol. He stood to Kirk's right, and slightly behind him, when Kirk was shot. Some researchers believe that this man shot Kirk discreetly, with his right hand (and the gun) tucked behind his left elbow.

     6. "White T-Shirt Guy" (on Stage with Kirk)

     The other person on stage with Kirk, who may have shot him, was an older white man wearing a white T-shirt, standing behind Kirk and to his right.



III. Five More Suspects, Persons of Interest, and Possible Origin Points of the Bullet

     Since this article was originally published - on the evening of September 15th - more information about more possible shooters, in addition to the original six - has come out.

     7. Someone Behind Kirk, Under the Tent
     Some people studying Kirk's murder have suggested that cameras behind Kirk, which were pointed at him and his audience, were moved or removed, in order to avoid filming the shooter and the source of the bullet. Those who believe this, think it means that Kirk was shot, from behind, by someone standing under the tent with him.

     8. A Cameraman Using a Camera Disguised as a Gun
     Other theories hold that Kirk was shot by a cameraman, using a camera which was disguised as a gun.

     9. The Microphone Kirk Was Holding (Disguised as a Gun?)
     Some believe Kirk's microphone was actually a gun, and fired the fatal bullet.

     10. The Drone Hovering Over the Event
     [ADD DETAILS]

     11. A Sniper on the Roof Nearby
     [GET & ADD IMAGE]
     The following video purports to show a sniper on the roof nearby the Kirk event.
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot0HY3Gq4Aw

     12. "Tyler Robinson" (Maybe Not the Same Guy?)
     [ADD DETAILS]

     Still others believe that Kirk's death was faked, and that he is still alive.

IV. The Path of the Bullet, and Locations of the Entry and Exit Wounds

     When Kirk was shot, his upper body appeared to move backwards, against his chair, and then he slumped down to his left. Parts of his shirt and head went slightly upwards as the bullet entered.

     It's not clear whether Kirk's slump to his left was caused by the bullet coming from his right, or whether he simply fell to his left as the consequence of gravity. That's why the bullet most likely came from somewhere in front of Kirk, and possibly to the right. The bullet may have come from straight-on, but if it did come from one direction or the other, then it more than likely came from the right rather than the left.

     Based on this information, the entry wound would have to be somewhere in either the front, front-right, or (somewhat less likely) the right side of Kirk's body; while the exit wound would have to be on his left and/or his back.

     Although an image was produced, of Kirk's body in his casket, with his neck bandaged, and a circle of red blood in the front-center of his neck, this image has been determined to have been created by artificial intelligence (A.I.).

     The video of Kirk being shot seems to indicate that the bullet exited near the left jugular vein in his neck. Researchers are still debating whether the bullet exited the back of his neck, or through the left side of his neck, or somewhere in between.
     It's also possible that the person who shot Kirk was standing in the tent area behind him, which would create an entry wound in the back of the neck and an exit wound in the front.

     This only represents my own personal opinion and assessment regarding the trajectory of the bullet. I have posted the text above before watching the following video, which contains another person's perspective regarding the path that the bullet took:
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltakvGyzfZs

IV. Conclusion

     An Instagram user named "Elite AF Wellness" commented, with concern, on the lack of public transparency into the post-mortem examination (i.e., autopsy) and the certificate of death.
     That video can be viewed at the following address:
     https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOov23ZDxFr/?igsh=eW9hc2sxcHdydWl1

     It seems that many questions may be left unanswered long after Kirk is buried.

     I am sharing the information above, and the image below, with the hopes that it will aid in the investigation into Kirk's murder, and provide for a more complete consideration of any and all possible suspects and/or persons of interest, no matter how unlikely it seems that each of them were involved.
     I also share this in hopes that the public will refrain from jumping to conclusions about the motivation and political affiliation of criminal suspects long before it can be determined whom else is suspected and what their names are.



V. Infographic of Eleven Suspects

Click the image above,
and open it in a new tab or window,
and download if necessary,
to see in full resolution

Infographic created, article written, and published

on September 15th, 2025.

Originally posted under the title
"Who Killed Charlie Kirk?: Photographs of All Six Suspects and Persons of Interest in the Shooting".

Edited and expanded, and title changed,
on September 17th, 2025.

Edited and expanded on September 18th, 2025.

State of Illinois v. Smollett: What if Jussie Smollett is Telling the Truth? (Incomplete)

     The following article was written as a script for my presentation to the Chicago College of Complexes, which I delivered on August 15th, 2020 via video teleconference.

Table of Contents

Part I: Introductions
     1. Introduction to Illinois v. Smollett, incl. Basic Facts About the Attack
     2. Why People Suspect This Was a Fabricated, Staged, Fake Hate Crime
     3. Speculation vs. the Rules of Evidence

Part II: The Physical Evidence and Verbal Testimony in the Case
     1. Examining the Supposed Proof That the Attacks Were Fabricated
     2. Additional Facts and Possibilities
     3. Conclusions About Physical Evidence, Verbal Testimony, and Speculation

Part III: Looking Closer at the Claims About "M.A.G.A."
     1. What is the Role of "M.A.G.A." in the Attack?
     2. Looking Closer at the Threatening Letter Smollett Received
     3. What the Police Say About the Purchases
     4. What Did the Osundairo Brothers Purchase Before the Attack?
     5. What Did the Police Find in the Osundairo Brothers' Apartment?

Part IV: Legal and Political Aspects of the Case
     1. Introduction to Legal and Political Aspects
     2. Did Smollett Confess? Did the Osundairo Brothers Confess? Who Says They Confessed?
     3. Political Aspects of the Case
     4. Did Smollett Get a "Sweetheart Deal"? Why Was He Let Off?

Part V: Conclusions, Part 1
     1. Confessions and Police Statements Don't Match Up with Verbal Testimony or Physical Evidence
     2. The Fact that Cameras Didn't Capture the Incident Could Mean Absolutely Nothing
     3. Smollett's Explanation of the Phone Call and the Noose Makes Sense
     4. Mayor Emanuel and Police Chief Johnson Made People Believe Smollett Defamed the City, Owed Reparations

Part VI: Conclusions, Part 2
     1. Faked Hate Crimes in America
     2. Jussie Smollett Was Lynched

Content

Part I: Introductions





     1. Introduction to Illinois v. Smollett, incl. Basic Facts About the Attack

     Introduction

     Thank you for having me. My name is Joseph W. Kopsick, I'm an independent researcher and blogger, and frequent candidate. I first addressed the topic of Jussie Smollett on my YouTube channel, JoeKopsick4Congress, on April 4th, 2019. That video is titled "Why Jussie Smollett Might Be Innocent." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dbcrl5k6DU

     In that video, I read an e-mail which I addressed to podcast host and comedian Jimmy Dore. I thanked him for covering the Jussie Smollett case, but I explained that I disagreed with him that CNN host Brian Stelter was wrong to say that we can never really be sure about what happened the night that actor Jussie Smollett was allegedly attacked in Chicago (the morning of January 29th, 2019).

     I explained why I believe that Jussie Smollett might be telling the truth, and why I think it's possible that the Osundairo brothers were in fact extorting Smollett for money rather than Smollett commissioning them to attack him in a staged hate crime.

     I will do the same thing here tonight, and I will additionally explain why I think statements by the Chicago Police Department are a mix of lies and truth. Most importantly, I will explain why I think the physical evidence and the verbal testimony in the case contradicts a large portion of what the police are saying about what happened.


     Basic Facts About the Attack

     For those who aren't familiar with the case, Jussie Smollett was friends with Abimbola "Abel" Osundairo, and his brother Olabinjo "Ola" Osundairo, both immigrants from Nigeria. Smollett had worked on the Fox T.V. series Empire with Abel, who was a stand-in for the character "Kai", who was the love interest of Smollett's character Jamal Lyon.
     Jussie Smollett claims that he was attacked around 2 A.M. on the morning of January 29th, 2019, while on the phone, after leaving a Subway located at 511 North McClurg Street in Chicago. The attack occurred on the 300 block of East Lower North Water Street in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago.
     Smollett told police that he had received a threatening letter in the days before the attack. That letter contained a white powdery substance, and was mailed to Smollett at the T.V. studio where Empire was filmed; 1445 South Rockwell Street in Chicago.

     2. Why People Suspect This Was a Fabricated, Staged, Fake Hate Crime

     There are eight main reasons why people suspect that this was a staged, fabricated hate crime:

     1. People can't understand why Smollett's assailants would shout "This is M.A.G.A. country" in Chicago.

     2. People can't understand why Smollett would be outside at 2 A.M. in the middle of a polar vortex, in below-zero weather.

     3. People can't figure out how the bleach which was allegedly poured on Smollett, could have stayed warm long enough to remain a liquid, in time to be poured on Smollett, as he claims.

     4. People can't understand why Smollett would go outside in the middle of the night, given the supposed danger he was in, from the people who had been sending him threatening letters.

     5. People seem to suspect that the fact that Smollett received a threatening letter before the alleged attack, was done by the Osundairo brothers, at the direction of Jussie Smollett.

     6. People can't understand why Smollett was wearing the noose allegedly used in the attack, when the police arrived.

     7. Smollett's job (his role on Empire) was supposedly at risk, which people believe suggests that he staged the attack in order to create publicity for himself, as a victim of a staged hate crime, to keep his role, and increase his wealth; and people think he used his acting skills to do it.

     8. People aren't pleased about the fact that security cameras in the area supposedly didn't capture the alleged attack.

     3. Speculation vs. the Rules of Evidence

     I will show, throughout this presentation, that a lot of what the public has been led to believe - by the mainstream media and the Chicago Police Department, and by citizens commenting on the case - is purely a matter of speculation, or else is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the physical evidence and verbal testimony surrounding the case (which are better indicators of the facts).

     The rules of evidence, and the scientific method, are such that the person making the claim, must be the one who proves his claims; not the person being accused. I agree with the notion that perhaps we will never know what really happened that night", but my goal in this presentation is not to figure out exactly what happened. It is to figure out what might have happened that night, if Smollett has been telling the truth all or most of the time.

     We should remember that Smollett has barely had a chance to tell his story, and when he has, his statements have been twisted around by countless YouTube commenters, including people claiming to be "body language experts", whose credentials are dubious and whose comments are mostly speculation. I will additionally explain how each and every one of Smollett's actions and statements have been twisted to make him look like he is guilty and lying.

Part II: The Physical Evidence and Verbal Testimony in the Case




     1. Examining the Supposed Proof That the Attacks Were Fabricated


     M.A.G.A. Country

     Smollett stated that his attackers shouted "This is M.A.G.A. country" during the attack. This refers to Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again".

     Judging from the conversations I've had on the subject, the average Chicagoan who hears Smollett claim that his attackers shouted "This is M.A.G.A. country", thinks "Chicago is definitely not 'M.A.G.A. country'. Why would Smollett's attackers say such a thing in one of the most heavily Democratic cities in the country?

     People who are already convinced that Smollett is lying, will jump to the conclusion that, if whomever attacked Smollett shouted something that wasn't true, then Smollett couldn't possibly be telling the truth.

     But isn't it more likely - or at least just as likely - that the attackers were lying? Isn't it possible that the attackers just said "This is M.A.G.A. country" - even though they didn't believe it - in order to conceal their identities?

     The Polar Vortex, the Temperature, and Bleach

     Some Americans who discussed the case were led to believe that the temperature outside, when Smollett was allegedly attacked, was 60 degrees below zero. However, the actual temperature at the time was probably sixteen degrees below zero (although it has been reported as anywhere between -20 and +2).
     The temperature was sixty below, with the wind chill included. That means it felt like sixty below, but that was not the actual temperature. However, some sources, such as C.B.S., gave the wind chill at the time as 40 below, 55 below, and 60 below. So what the temperature and wind chill were at the time of the alleged attack, is a matter which is under dispute.

     Most Americans were perplexed as to why Smollett would be outside, at 2 in the morning, in the middle of a polar vortex. That's why they think Smollett must be lying about the attack. But what many Americans don't know is that Chicagoans are used to going out in below-zero temperatures. We are used to it because we sometimes have to go outside in the middle of the night, for whatever reason, and we have to dig our cars out of the snow sometimes. 

     Another thing that confused people watching Smollett's case develop, was the issue of how the bleach stayed a liquid in such cold temperatures. However, Smollett only believed that bleach had been poured on him. It was reported as a "bleach-like substance". Different types of bleach freeze at either 7, 19, or 20 degrees above Fahrenheit, depending on which type of bleach, or bleach-like substance it is.
     Still, that's a higher temperature than the temperature at which the attack occurred, so it's understandable that people would be confused about how the bleach stayed a liquid at such a low temperature. But there is an explanation: The bleach could have been stored indoors, and then brought outside for the attack before it could freeze.

[The remainder of this article will appear on this page at a later date.]

Published in Part on August 16th, 2020

Incomplete Portions Removed on August 17th, 2020