FACT CHECK: Viral X Post Falsely Labels Anti-Trump Protester As Rally Shooter

A viral post shared on X claims anti-Trump protester Maxwell Yearick opened fire on 2024 Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, PA on July 13.

(Warning: Post contains graphic content)

Verdict: False

There are neither credible news reports nor statements from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) linking Yearick to the shooting. Multiple media outlets, including CBS News, have identified Thomas Matthew Crooks as the shooter.

Fact Check:

The AR-style rifle Crooks used in the shooting was purchased “legally” by his father 11 years ago, authorities said, according to The Washington Post. Authorities were able to trace and identify the gun “using records from a gun dealership that is no longer operating,” the outlet reported.

The X post, viewed over four million times as of writing, claims Yearick opened fire on Trump’s July 13 rally in Butler, PA. “Now, it’s being reported that Thomas Matthew Crooks is NOT the alleged shooter, and that it is a guy affiliated with ANTIFA that was actually arrested back in 2016 for being involved in an Anti-Trump protest in Pittsburgh,” the post’s caption begins.

“His name is Maxwell Yearick. He was sentenced to a 3-12 month jail sentence in Allegheny County Jail. I don’t know WHO is the true shooter at this point, and it seems like we are being intentionally confused about it,” it continues. The post also includes photos of Yearick.

The claim is false, however. Yearick’s name has not been referenced in any credible news reports about the shooting that took place at Trump’s recent campaign rally. In fact, the opposite is true. On July 15, Reuters reported the claim was false. In addition, the FBI neither repeated the claim about Yearick via statements about the shooting issued on its website nor its verified X account.

Furthermore, multiple media outlets, including CBS News have identified the shooter as Crooks, a 20-year-old man from Bethel Park, PA.

Although Yearick was not involved in the shooting, he was sentenced to jail time for clashing with police during an anti-Trump protest in 2016, according to WTAE. Besides the three- to 12-month sentence, Yearick was also sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service, the outlet reported. Another protestor, Kennon Hooper, faced the same sentences. (RELATED: Image Falsely Claims To Show Trump’s Shooter’s Instagram)

Check Your Fact has contacted the FBI for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.