Georgia

Was the Apalachee High School shooter identified as a trans girl named Samantha Hyde? No, that's not true: An internet hoax that misidentifies the suspect in mass shootings as "Sam" or "Samantha Hyde" has been going around since 2015. The 14-year-old suspect in the Georgia school shooting was identified by authorities as 14-year-old Colt Gray. The meme reappeared on X…

Does a photo on social media show the Apalachee High School shooter? No, that's not true: The picture is from training material that is part an active defense training program by Reflex Protect, a company specializing in safety preparedness. The image is not connected in any way to the deadly shooting that occurred on September 4, 2024, in Winder, Georgia,…

Were University of Texas students who knelt during the national anthem "removed from scholarships" as a social media post with a link to an article in the comments said? No, that's not true: The photo appearing with the story depicts cheerleaders at Kennesaw State University, in Georgia. As of August 27, 2024 there was no public statement by the University…

Are Donald Trump and JD Vance supporters now carrying around specimen cups of Vance's semen marked "JD Vance Full Family Kit" to "mock democrats who can't start families" as shown in a series of photos being spread online? No, that's not true: Several aspects point to this being an election year prank or stunt. The photos were taken at an…

Was Thomas Jolly, "the artist who created the Olympics opening ceremony," hospitalized after being hit by lightning? No, that's not true: The viral claim was based on a fake screenshot of a nonexistent AP article. Lead Stories found no actual news reports or any evidence that such a lightning strike happened. The claim appeared in a reel on Facebook on…

Did several non-citizens living in a Georgia apartment complex illegally register and vote, as is claimed in a video Elon Musk sent to 193 million X users? No, that's not true: The Georgia Secretary of State's office confirmed there is no public record that they registered or voted. Lead Stories Español staff went to the Norcross, Georgia, apartment building and…

Did an accident involving a semitrailer transporting venomous snakes release "hundreds" of "deadly snakes" along a highway in Georgia? No, that's not true: The site that published the claim calls itself a "satirical page" and is labeled a "comedian." The image used in the post is from a real traffic accident that occurred in 2024, but it had nothing to…

Does the Georgia Voter Registration Cancellation Portal automatically cancel voter registration based solely on entry of a voter's first initial, last name, county and date of birth? No, that's not true: These data points are only the first step in the process. A spokesperson for Georgia's Secretary of State, which oversees elections, told Lead Stories the system asks for more…

After being wounded by a gunman at his campaign rally on July 13, 2024, did Donald Trump fly to Denver, Colorado, to watch an Ultimate Fighting Championship bout along with UFC President Dana White? No, that's not true: White posted to social media that he was flying to Europe at the time of the incident. When the rumor started to…

Does the Supreme Court decision in Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy mean that child support defendants are entitled to a trial by jury? No, that's not true: Legal experts contacted by Lead Stories said SEC v. Jarkesy doesn't apply at the state and local levels. The decision is based on the Seventh Amendment, which pertains solely to federal agencies…