Image shows Texas couple, not alleged killer of US politician
The picture shows a man posing with a woman in a shirt that says: "I think therefore I am... a DEMOCRAT."
It rocketed across platforms in posts claiming it showed the man wanted for shooting lawmakers in Minnesota, who was captured on June 15.
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Screenshot of a Facebook post taken June 17, 2025
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Screenshot of an Instagram post taken June 17, 2025
Boelter allegedly killed Melissa Hortman, leader of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, and her husband Mark. Boelter also allegedly shot state senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who are recovering in the hospital from multiple gunshot wounds.
Acting US Attorney for the District of Minnesota Joe Thompson told a press conference on June 16 that Boelter faces six federal charges, including two counts of murder by firearm -- punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty (archived here).
Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the shooting spree, which Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called a "politically motivated assassination" (archived here).
A notebook containing the names of other lawmakers and potential targets was found inside a car left by Boelter at the Hortmans' home, renewing fears of growing political violence in the United States.
Certain social media posts initially claimed close ties between Boelter and Walz, despite a lack of evidence supporting a connection to the progressive governor who ran for the White House with Kamala Harris. Additionally, the circulating photo is not of the suspected shooter or his wife.
Reverse image searches surfaced several posts on X saying the picture actually shows Lillie Schechter, former chair of the Texas Democratic Party, posing with her husband (archived here, here and here).
fran, a member of the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee (archived here), posted on X to debunk the claim saying: "That's @lillieschechter and her husband in front of Houston City Hall. They have literally no relation to Vance Boelter whatsoever" (archived here).
Further keyword searches found a June 16 Facebook post (archived here) from Brian Trachtenberg stating that he is the person pictured in the "pro-gun, pro-resistance" shirt, which he says he wore to a "No Kings" rally in Houston.
"Someone took that pic, said it was a pic of the MN shooter of Dem lawmakers, and launched it far and wide. All over the right wing social sphere, I am Vance Boelter, and Lillie Schechter, who has devoted her life to peace, love, and Democracy (and who doesn't share my views in guns), is his allegedly complicit wife," he wrote.
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Screenshot of a Facebook post taken June 17, 2025
Photos of city hall in Houston match the color and window pattern of the behind Schechter and Trachtenberg.
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Screenshot of the image circulating on social media (L) next to an AFP photo taken by Cécile Clocheret of a May 2024 protest in front of Houston city hall with the same windows outlined by AFP in both images
The picture at the demonstration also matches Schechter's appearance in photos on her website (archived here).
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Screenshot of a photo on Lillie Schechter's website (L) and the image shared on social media
AFP reached out to Schechter and Trachtenberg for additional information, but no response was forthcoming.
appeared in a federal court in Saint Paul, Minnesota on June 16 and a federal judge ordered him to remain in custody, according to local media (archived here).
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