Fact check: Fabricated CBS News tweet misleads on Buffalo shooting
The claim: Images show CBS News tweeted information about new arrests in the Buffalo shooting, and an additional victim
Weeks after the mass shooting at a Buffalo, N.Y., supermarket, online posts continue to spread false narratives about the mass shooting.
A lone gunman was arrested after the mass shooting, but a May 16 Facebook post claims the suspect did not act alone. In that Facebook post – which includes a supposed screenshot of a tweet from a CBS news outlet in New Zealand –additional suspects and victims are identified. The supposed tweet includes photos and other details.
"Two individuals arrested in connection with the #Buffalo mass shooting: Dimitri Potapoff (top) and Richard McWingo (bottom), were arrested by Buffalo law enforcement on Sunday," reads the purported CBS News tweet. "They allegedly provided weapons, ammunition, and body armor for the shooter."
"Another victim of the #Buffalo mass shooting has been identified as Bernie Gores, aged 35," reads the second tweet.
The post was shared close to 200 times in less than a week. However, the tweet is not real.
The Twitter account is digitally fabricated and not affiliated with CBS News. Police have arrested the Buffalo shooting suspect, and no additional victims were identified.
Fact check: Image shows misidentified local news reporter at Buffalo shooting, not actor
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the claim for comment.
Tweet is fabricated, not sent by CBS News
While the CBS New Zealand Twitter account, @CBSNewNZ, uses the same logo as CBS News, the Twitter account is fake.
The tweet never appeared on a legitimate CBS News Twitter account, and does not reflect any CBS news reports published around the time of the post.
CBS News has bureaus across the globe, but only movies and TV shows are available for streaming in New Zealand.
Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks
The unverified account was created in March and had less than 10 followers as of May 17, according to PolitiFact. Twitter has suspended the account.
No additional suspects or victims have been reported
Authorities identified Payton S. Gendron, an 18-year-old, as the Buffalo shooting suspect. There is no evidence of additional suspects linked to the massacre.
Ten people were killed but "Bernie Gores" was not among them. USA TODAY previously reported on Bernie Gores, a fictional identity used in false claims.
The photo of the additional alleged shooter, who is identified as "Dimitri Potapoff'' in the post, is actually a picture of Kyle Myers, a man with a history of recording himself shooting guns. Myers' mug shot featured in the post is from his arrest in 2017, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.
The second person in the tweet, Richard McWingo, is not an actual person. The photos show YouTuber Jordie Jordan, who is known as "WingsofRedemption" online. Jordan's images have previously been debunked in connection with the fictional persona ''Bernie Gores.''
Our rating: Altered
Based on our research, we rate ALTERED an image purporting to show that CBS News tweeted information about new arrests in the Buffalo shooting and an additional victim. The men in the tweet are YouTubers who were not involved in the Buffalo shooting.
Our fact-checking sources:
PolitiFact, May 18, Fake Twitter account posing as CBS shared false information about Buffalo shooting arrests, victim
USATODAY, May 19, 'We don't feel safe': Many Black Americans experiencing grief, trauma after Buffalo shooting
USATODAY, May 15, Buffalo supermarket shooting: Suspect previously threatened violence against his high school, authorities say
USATODAY, May 19, Buffalo shooting suspect appears in court for the second time, charged with first-degree murder
Paramount Australia & New Zealand, accessed May 24, Paramount+ Streaming Unique Stories, Iconic Stars And A Mountain Of Entertainment.
CBS News, May 16, New details emerge about suspect in Buffalo supermarket shooting
Paramount, accessed May 25, CBS News
Twitter, accessed May 25, Misleading and deceptive identities policy
Twitter Help Center, accessed May 25, How we address misinformation on Twitter
CBS News, May 19, Buffalo mass shooting suspect appears in court
USATODAY, March 4, Fact check: CNN did not report same man's death in both Afghanistan and Ukraine
USA TODAY NETWORK, May 15, 'A beautiful soul': Loved ones of Buffalo shooting victims mourn losses to tight-knit community
Athens Banner-Herald, Aug. 3, 2017, Gun-shooting video maker in Carnesville arrested; feds search property for guns, explosives
Wikitubia, accessed May 25, Jordie Jordan
AFP Fact Check, March 1, Fake CNN tweet falsely reports first US casualty in Ukraine
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.
Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Fabricated CBS News tweet misleads on Buffalo shooting