Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt on Saturday at a Pennsylvania rally.
The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service agents, but conspiracy theories about a second shooter quickly spread on social media, as CBS News reports.
The attempt on Trump's life occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Local law enforcement and U.S. Secret Service identified the shooter as Crooks, who was neutralized almost immediately.
Alleged misinformation flooded platforms such as X (formerly known as Twitter) and Reddit in the aftermath of the incident. Visuals purportedly showing a second shooter on a nearby water tower contributed to the frenzy.
A number of authorities, journalists, and eyewitness accounts firmly contradicted these claims. Crooks was on a roof near the tower, with officials declaring that he had no accomplices.
Blurred videos on social media made questionable claims about additional activity on the nearby water tower. Posts featuring this content gained traction, spreading the theory further.
On some X posts, community notes were added to debunk the second shooter myth. Despite these attempts, the theory persisted and confused many viewers. An eyewitness in a Fox News interview mentioned a supposed additional shooter. Such statements only fueled what many are calling a dangerous conspiracy theory.
CBS News reviewed footage and confirmed no person was on the water tower. The supposed shadows were explained as the Pennsylvania American Water logo and a vent, not human figures.
Experts emphasized the danger of sharing unverified information amid significant news events. Other sources stressed the notion that premature conclusions can wreak havoc and distort public understanding.
CBS News also shared best practices for social media users to ensure responsible information dissemination. One primary recommendation was verifying sources before sharing content.
Following the assassination attempt, former President Trump was unharmed. The sole assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was quickly incapacitated by the Secret Service.
Despite what many say is clear evidence to the contrary, theories alleging a second shooter spread rapidly. Local law enforcement and multiple credible sources confirmed only one shooter, situated near the water tower.
The quick spread of highly debatable information underscores the critical need for caution when sharing news on social media.
