Fact check: Texas elementary school shooting suspect, Salvador Ramos, was a US citizen
The claim: Texas elementary school shooting suspect, Salvador Ramos, was 'illegal alien'
On May 24, a shooter opened fire at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school, killing 19 children and two adults.
Since the shooting, some social media users have claimed the Robb Elementary School shooting suspect, Salvador Ramos, was not a U.S. citizen and was in the country illegally.
"Illegal Alien Salvatore Ramos, (sic) 18 years old, shot & killed 14 students & 1 teacher in Uvalde, Texas," reads a May 24 Facebook post.
The post garnered more than 200 interactions in three days. An array of other social media posts making similar claims also circulated widely.
The claim gained additional traction when Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Arizona, also called Ramos an "illegal alien" in a since-deleted tweet, according to the Associated Press. (Gosar did not respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.)
However, the claim is wrong. Two high-ranking Texas state officials confirmed that Ramos was a U.S. citizen.
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USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the claim for comment.
Texas state officials said Ramos was a US citizen
Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat who represents Uvalde, told USA TODAY that Ramos was a U.S. citizen and that he was born in North Dakota. He said that information came from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Gutierrez said the same in interviews with other outlets.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also stated that Ramos was a U.S. citizen at a May 24 press conference.
The claim about Ramos' immigration status was previously debunked by PolitiFact and Reuters.
Fact check: No evidence Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has a Twitter template for mass shootings
USA TODAY has debunked other misinformation related to the Uvalde shooting, including a claim that understated the number of school shootings in the U.S.
Our rating: False
Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that the Uvalde elementary school shooting suspect, Salvador Ramos, was an "illegal alien." Two Texas state officials confirmed that Ramos was a U.S. citizen.
Our fact-check sources:
Texas State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, May 31, Phone interview with USA TODAY
USA TODAY, May 26, As questions mount over Texas school shooting response time, officer says police moved quickly: Live updates
PolitiFact, May 25, Gunman in Texas school shooting was not an immigrant illegally in the country
Reuters, May 27, Fact Check-Texas shooter was a U.S. citizen, according to Texas Governor
The New York Times, May 25, Debunking 3 Viral Rumors About the Texas Shooting
PBS Newshour via YouTube, May 24, WATCH: Texas Gov. Abbott holds news briefing following mass shooting at Uvalde elementary school
CNBC Television via YouTube, May 24, I guess this is the world we're living in now, says State Senator Roland Gutierrez
Associated Press, May 26, 'Horrifying' conspiracy theories swirl around Texas shooting
USA TODAY, May 25, 'There are no words' after Texas school shooting: Families mourn as names of Uvalde victims emerge
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Texas school shooting suspect was US citizen