How A Fake AI Photo Fueled A Shooting Conspiracy Theory
The Aftermath of the Charlie Kirk Shooting
In the days following the September 10 shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, law enforcement launched a public search for the suspect. The FBI released surveillance video and several images of a "person of interest," calling on the public for assistance. This effort led to the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler R. on September 12, whose official mugshot was then released.
A Viral AI-Generated Fake Emerges
Almost immediately, social media platforms were inundated with a mix of authentic and false imagery claiming to show the attacker. Amid the chaos, one particular image went viral. It was praised by users as a "high-quality" and clear depiction of the suspect, with some posts falsely claiming it was an official release from the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Verdict: Fake. This image, which appeared across X in multiple different posts, is a piece of misinformation. While it might look like a cleaned-up version of the FBI photo, a closer examination reveals clear signs that it was generated by artificial intelligence.
How to Spot the Digital Deception
The most crucial piece of evidence is that no law enforcement agency, including the FBI, ever officially released the image in question. Beyond that, a direct comparison with the authentic photo highlights several tell-tale signs of AI manipulation:
- Unnatural Texture: The fake image has unnaturally smooth skin, waxy facial features, and colors that look more like a painting than a photograph.
- AI Hallucinations: The AI has added details that don't exist in the original, such as a watch on the suspect's wrist.
- Distorted Details: Common AI errors are visible, including a gibberish symbol on the cap and a distorted flag on the t-shirt.
- Altered Background: The background of the fake image includes a person in black pants who is not present in the original FBI footage.
The authentic FBI images were low-resolution captures from CCTV. Only one provided a difficult frontal view of the suspect, who was wearing a cap and sunglasses, making a clear identification challenging.
How a Fake Photo Fueled a Conspiracy Theory
The circulation of this AI-generated image had serious consequences, directly fueling a conspiracy theory. Once Tyler R.'s official mugshot was released, many social media users compared it not to the real FBI photo, but to the convincing fake.
Because the AI image was different from the real person, these users began making claims that the FBI had arrested the wrong man. They pointed to fabricated differences in the ears, mouth, and facial structure—all discrepancies that existed only because they were comparing a real mugshot to an artificial creation.
Modern AI image generators can produce highly realistic and convincing fakes in a matter of seconds. By using text prompts or uploading existing images, anyone can create visuals that are difficult to distinguish from reality. To demonstrate this, our fact-checking team used an AI tool to create a similar enhanced image of the suspect, showing just how easily these sharp, detailed, and misleading pictures can be made.
