Donald Trump shooting suspect was not identified as 32-year-old California resident ‘Hank Pecker’

Social media posts are spreading misinformation about the person authorities suspect of shooting and killing one person, injuring former President Donald Trump and critically injuring two others at the candidate’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

A couple of hours after Secret Service agents rushed Trump, whose ear was bloodied, offstage, a July 13 Threads post claimed to have information on the shooter. "Trump Rally Shooter has been identified as 32 year old, California resident, Hank Pecker," the text in the photo read. 

(Screenshot from Threads)

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Information released by the FBI contradicts this claim.

A July 14 FBI statement said: "The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the suspect involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania."

The investigation continues.

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A reverse-image search showed the photo in the Threads post was uploaded in February 2022 by Twitch streamer Hasan Piker. According to Dot Esports, an esports and gaming news site, Piker has roleplayed a "gun-loving, self-proclaimed libertarian" character named Hank Pecker in his videos.

The Secret Service said July 13 that the suspect "fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue. US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased."

We rate the claim that the Trump shooter was a 32-year-old California resident named Hank Pecker Pants on Fire!