‘Samantha Hyde’ was not the Apalachee High School shooter.

September 5, 2024

Hours after a teenager shot and killed four people at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, an X user claimed the suspect had been identified.

“BREAKING: Apalachee High School shooter has been identified as non-binary trans girl Samantha Hyde,” the Sept. 4 post said.

Zany: I need to butt in here and say something. How sick are these people to do this when there had just been a real school shooting? You think it’s funny? Go back to the basement and watch Andrew Tate videos, a-hole. ? (Sorry. I had to get that out.

X post claiming a lie about school shooter is true — Screenshot from X

If this name seems familiar, it’s because for almost a decade, people have been falsely pinning tragedies on a person by this or a similar name: that of comedian Sam Hyde.

Read the rest of this fact-check on PolitiFact.

Serena Zehlius, Editor

Serena Zehlius is a passionate writer and political commentator with a knack for blending humor and satire into her insights on news, politics, and social issues. Serena spent over a decade in the veterinary field as a devoted veterinary assistant and pet sitting business owner. Her love for animals is matched only by her commitment to human rights and progressive values. When she’s not writing about politics, you can find her exploring nature or advocating for a better world for both people and pets.