A photo circulating on social media claiming to show the Georgia school shooting suspect, a 14-year-old named Colt Gray, is false. The photo actually dates back at least eight years and has been used in active shooter training materials by the Indiana State Police since 2015. The photo was also included in a training manual from Reflex Protect, a company that sells safety products and training.
USA TODAY debunked the claim and reached out to the Indiana State Police, Reflex Protect, and users who shared the false information. One Facebook user said they came across the photo from another source, and an X user who shared the claim later acknowledged that the photo was unrelated to the Georgia shooting. Lead Stories also debunked the claim.
This misinformation is part of a broader trend of false claims about mass shooting suspects, including incorrect assertions about the suspect in the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. It is crucial to fact-check information and not spread false claims, especially in sensitive and tragic situations like school shootings.
USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, and their fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta.
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