Facebook Taking Down Fake Post of Atlanta Shooting Suspect Ranting Against China

Photo credit: Loic Venance, Getty Images

Facebook is working to scrub a fake post that purports to show the alleged Georgia spa shooter using their platform to go on a tirade against China.

Robert Aaron Long was arrested on Tuesday after being identified as the prime suspect of the three violent attacks that left eight people dead, including six Asian American women. Cherokee City Sheriff Frank Reynolds told reporters that racism against Asians “did not appear to be” Long’s motive after initial interviews, though he said the investigation is still in its early stages.

Fox 5 Atlanta reports that as the shooting situation unfolded, a Facebook post appeared that seemed to show Long blasting China over the coronavirus pandemic. The post shows Long accusing China of covering the pandemic and killing over 500,000 Americans in an attempt for world domination, plus Long saying “ALL AMERICANS NEED TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST CHINA, NOW.”

As the post spread, questions were raised about its authenticity. Facebook Communications Director Andy Stone said Wednesday on Twitter that “those screenshots were fake,” and Facebook is working to have them deleted.

Yes, these screenshots are fake and we’re removing them from the platform for violating our policies.

— Andy Stone (@andymstone) March 17, 2021

Yes, this is a fake. https://t.co/noADBIiQWW

— Andy Stone (@andymstone) March 17, 2021