A wave of incorrect and misleading information swept through social media during the two days that authorities took to arrest and reveal the identity of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who is suspected of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
This situation followed a familiar trend of misinformation and conspiracy theories that usually emerge during significant news events when accurate facts are hard to come by. Posts began flooding social media mere hours after the shooting, with some of the earliest incorrectly labeling the shooter well before any official details were made public. Misinformation surged again on Thursday and Friday, twisting old videos and images into claims that they represented recent sightings of the shooter, along with false narratives about Robinson’s background.
Let’s break down these claims and see what’s actually true.
CLAIM: Tyler Robinson is a registered Republican
FACT CHECK: This claim is untrue. Records from Utah show that while known as a voter, Robinson is not affiliated with any political party, highlighting his inactive voter status which indicates he did not participate in the last two elections after notification from local election officials. Utah Governor Spencer Cox mentioned that Robinson’s family noted he had become increasingly political and critical of Charlie Kirk, even going as far as to label Kirk as “filled with hate and spreading hate.” It also came to light that the ammunition found at the crime scene bore provocative messages tied to anti-fascist sentiment as well as meme culture.
CLAIM: Robinson is part of the Democratic Socialists of America
FACT CHECK: This statement is also false. Priscilla Yeverino, a spokesperson for the Democratic Socialists, made it clear that there is no one by the name Tyler Robinson listed as a member of their organization. Misinformation often relies on the misuse of resemblance; in this case, a misleading photo showing another individual labeled as a DSA member was circulated. Before Robinson’s arrest, many assumed the shooter would be affiliated with the Democrats, which led to accusations from several conservative figures, including Donald Trump, linking liberal values to Kirk’s tragic passing.
CLAIM: A video shows the shooter fleeing
FACT CHECK: This , again, is untrue. The purported video circulating purportedly shows a man running towards a parking lot as the shooter escaping, but it was filmed on July 28, well over a month before the Kirk shooting. It captures Dakota Hawver, who was involved in a separate gun incident in Reno, Nevada, where he killed three individuals and injured many others. The footage went viral following the Reno incident, revealing what may have been a misunderstanding stitched into the context of a different tragedy.
CLAIM: Democrats initiated chaos during prayer for Kirk in Congress
FACT CHECK: This claim is misleading at best. On Wednesday, the House did observe a moment of prayer for Charlie Kirk and his grieving family upon the request of Speaker Mike Johnson. However, a later request for a communal prayer created a mix of reactions leading to noise on the House floor. In recorded footage, several members stood silently for a short while before voices in protest interrupted – choices to include a moment of vocal prayer fell into disorder. Clips circulating that criticize Democrats omit key moments from earlier in the proceedings, altering the context of lawmakers’ objections.
CLAIM: Michael Mallinson or George Zinn were the shooters
FACT CHECK: This is simply inaccurate. Though definitive claims identified Robinson as the shooter on Friday, many individuals such as Mallinson and Zinn faced wrongful allegations while authorities sought the real suspect. Mallinson, a retired Toronto resident, expressed distress after accidental accusations by receiving frantic calls from family urging him to delete his social accounts upon waking from a nap. His life was turned upside down without any prior knowledge of who Charlie Kirk was. Contrary to speculation involving Zinn, police later clarified he was merely taken in for questioning and had no direct connection to the shooting incident.
For real-time fact-checking and updates on such matters, you can check AP Fact Check.
