image Share on Instagram The video purports to show Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old man who committed a mass shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, at a July 13 campaign rally for former President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, wearing a yarmulke.
Verdict: False
On July 19, Lead Stories reported that the claim was false and identified the photo as coming from B'nai Abraham Synagogue in Butler, Pennsylvania. A spokesperson for the synagogue denied that Crooks was in the photo.
Fact check:
Federal agents visited Crooks' Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, home on July 21. Fox NewsAccording to the media, Crooks opened fire at a Trump campaign rally on July 13, killing one rally attendee and wounding two others.
The Instagram image, which has been viewed more than 9,000 times as of this writing, purports to show Crooks wearing a yarmulke. “Notice that the news does not mention the religious affiliation of the suspect who shot Trump,” is written above the image. The image shows a young man with short brown hair and glasses wearing a yarmulke.
This claim is false; Check Your Fact has not found any mention of this photo in any credible news reports. Crooks or shootingIn fact, the opposite is true. Top Stories The allegations are false, the outlet reported. The outlet traced the photo to the B'nai Abraham Synagogue in Butler, Pennsylvania. The image was shared on both the synagogue's website and Facebook page. Website And that Facebook page Both are apparently confidential, Archived version Images can be viewed online.
Additionally, a spokesperson for the synagogue confirmed that Crooks was not in the photo, Lead Stories reported.
“Thomas Crooks has never been a member of Congregation B'nai Abraham or attended any events or services at our synagogue. The individual in the photo circulating which was taken from our Facebook page is someone we know and is not Thomas Crooks,” the spokesperson said.
Similarly, the F.B.I. statement release The Bethel Park Police Department reported the shooting via its website. Not yet publicly Commented Regarding billing. (Related: Viral X-Image Falsely Claims Trump Rally Shooter Was Transgender)
Check Your Fact has reached out to B'nai Abraham Synagogue for comment and will update this article if we receive a response.
