FACT CHECK: Threads Image Falsely Identifies Man Accused Of Shooting Trump
The article shared on Threads claims that a man accused of shooting former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, PA is a Turkish left-wing political commentator named Hasan Piker. However, this claim is false. The actual shooter has been identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a man with no known history of mental illness. The image of Piker holding a gun is actually from a role-playing scenario in a video game where he portrays a libertarian character named Hank Pecker. Pecker is described as a gun-loving, right-wing character, in contrast to Piker’s actual political beliefs. The false claim was debunked by a fact-checking organization that found the image originated from Piker’s Instagram account.
An image shared on Threads claims to show a man who is accused of shooting 2024 presumptive Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump during his July 13 campaign rally in Butler, PA.
Post by @barbaraj.sobel
View on Threads
Verdict: False
The image shows Turkish left-wing political commentator and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who portrays libertarian character Hank Pecker. Thomas Matthew Crooks has been identified as the shooter who opened fire at Trump’s campaign rally.
Fact Check:
Crooks worked as a dietary aide at the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and did not have a “known history of mental illness,” according to ABC News. Crooks was also described by his high school classmates as “lonely” and “quiet,” the outlet reported.
The Threads image claims Pecker is the man who is accused of shooting Trump during his July 13 campaign rally in Butler, PA. The image, which shows a male wearing a shirt featuring an AR-15 and holding a gun, claims Pecker is a 32-year-old California resident. The image does not provide a source to support its claim.
The claim is false, however. Check Your Fact performed a reverse image search and found the image originally shared on Instagram in February 2022 by Piker. According to a July 2022 article from Dot Esports, Piker portrays the character Hank Pecker “when role-playing in video games on stream.” Pecker is the opposite of Piker politically, according to the same article. He is “a gun-loving, self-proclaimed libertarian that holds a plethora of right-wing political beliefs,” the outlet indicated.
Likewise, Check Your Fact did not find the Threads image referenced in any credible news reports about the shooting. Actually, the opposite is true. On July 14, Politifact reported the image showed Pecker, the character portrayed by Piker, and not the actual shooter.
Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, PA, is the individual who shot Trump during the campaign rally, according to The Associated Press. Crooks, who killed one rally attendee as a result of the incident, was shot dead by the Secret Service, the outlet reported. An investigation into Crooks’ possible motive is currently underway. (RELATED: Viral Photo Of ‘Mark Violets’ Is Not Trump Rally Shooter)
Although voter registration records appear to show Crooks was a registered Republican, he made a $15 donation to the Progressive Turnout Project in 2021, according to Axios.
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