The Poynter Institute Menu Donate State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin Issues * All Issues * Online hoaxes * Coronavirus * Health Care * Immigration * Extremism * Taxes * Marijuana * Environment * Crime * Guns * Foreign Policy * LGBTQ+ People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis Media * PunditFact * Tucker Carlson * Sean Hannity * Rachel Maddow * Bloggers * PolitiFact Videos Campaigns * 2024 Elections Truth-o-Meter * True * Mostly True * Half True * Mostly False * False * Pants on Fire Promises * Biden Promise Tracker * Trump-O-Meter * Obameter * Latest Promises About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Suggest a Fact-check * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters Donate #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up English Español ### Stand up for the facts! Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info ### I would like to contribute One Time Monthly Yearly Join Now ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 8, 2019 in a post on Facebook: Says a crisis actor played the parts of a shooting victim and the mothers of shooting victims in Las Vegas, Orlando and Thousand Oaks. ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"pants- fire\\"](\\" * Fake news * Crime * Facebook Fact-checks * Guns * Viral image ![\\"A](\\" A post circulating on Facebook falsely claims that the woman pictured in all these photos is the same person. We rate this Pants on Fire! ![\\"Ciara](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke August 14, 2019 # No, the same woman didn’t pretend to be a shooting victim and the mothers of shooting victims Mass shootings are regularly accompanied by claims that shooting survivors and victims’ family members are \"crisis actors.\" In fact, such smears against the survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, earned PolitiFact’s Lie of the Year in 2018. Unfortunately, the old playbook remains intact: The mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio, touched off a new round of social media posts claiming crisis actors abound in the wake of mass shootings. An image posted to Facebook on Aug. 8 featuring the photos of three women wrongly suggests that they’re the same woman playing the parts of a shooting victim and the mothers of shooting victims. \"JUST SO YOU KNOW NOT ONLY WAS SHE A MOM OF THE CALIFORNIA AND ORLANDO SHOOTINGS, BUT SHE WAS A VITCIM (sic) OF THE Las Vegas SHOOTING TOO!!\" the image says followed by three laughing-while-crying emojis. Accounts commenting on the post took the claim even further. One suggested the woman pictured also looks like \"the alleged mother of the girl supposedly killed in Charlottesville.\" Another placed her \"at the Boston Marathon, at the Levoy Finnicum standoff in Oregon, and at Sandy Hook.\" This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) That is because the image is a collage of images of three different women. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 22, 2024 in Facebook posts Jason Aldean rejected a $500 million music collaboration with Taylor Swift. ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Sofia Ahmed • August 26, 2024 The woman in the bottom right is Christine Leinonen, whose son, Christopher, was killed during a shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando that left 50 dead in 2016. The woman in the top photo is Jan Lambourne, who was among those shot at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas that left 59 dead and hundreds more injured in 2017. The woman in the bottom left photo is Susan Schmidt-Orfanos, whose son, Telemachus \"Tel\" Orfanos, survived the Las Vegas shooting only to die during a shooting at a bar in the Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks that left 13 dead in 2018. In the image posted to Facebook, the three women have light skin and are wearing glasses. They all have wavy brown hair and glasses, but they do not look identical. And searching for other photos of the women, ones in which they aren’t under duress and in some cases not wearing glasses, the differences are even more acute. Leinonen has been in the public eye since the shooting, speaking at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, for example. Lambourne appeared on \"Deal or No Deal.\" All three women are different individuals who have experienced gun violence up close. We rate this Facebook post Pants on Fire. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Facebook post, Aug. 8, 2019 PolitiFact, \"PolitiFact’s Lie of the Year: Online smear machine tries to take down Parkland students,\" Dec. 11, 2018 Snopes, \"Did the same ‘crisis actor’ play the mother and victim in three different mass shootings?\" Nov. 10, 2018 CBC, \"Wounded Manitoban hid under wheelbarrow to survive Las Vegas massacre,\" Oct. 3, 2017 BBC News, \"Orlando shootings: Grieving mother begs for gun law to change,\" June 13, 2016 CNN, \"Orlando shooting: 49 killed, shooter pledged ISIS allegiance,\" June 13, 2016 BBC, \"Las Vegas shooting: At least 59 dead at Mandalay Bay Hotel,\" Oct. 2, 2017 Business Insider, \"At least 13 dead, including gunman, at college-bar mass shooting in Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks,\" Nov. 8, 2018 BBC, \"Thousand Oaks: Las Vegas shooting survivor among dead,\" Nov. 9, 2018 Orlando Sentinel, \"Mom of Pulse victim Drew Leinonen: ‘I am my son’s voice,’\" June 7, 2017 CNBC, \"A Las Vegas shooting hero just won $120,000 on ‘Deal or No Deal.’ Here’s what he plans to do with the money,\" Feb. 20, 2019 The Washington Post, \"Pair survived the Las Vegas massacre. A California shooting took one away,\" Nov. 11, 2018 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Ciara O\'Rourke slide 4 to 6 of 15 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 7, 2024 in a Threads post: Elon Musk said, “Anyone caught promoting propaganda will be suspended from X.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 6, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Elon Musk to fund new anti-woke show featuring Tucker Carlson.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 2, 2024 in an Instagram post: Image shows “Michelle Obama’s necklace from DNC speech” said “Mike.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 11, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 16, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Country Music Television (CMT) has announced a permanent boycott of Taylor Swift.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 11, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Disney World officially moving to Nashville.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on September 16, 2024 in Threads post: Images show Sean Combs’ booking photos after Sept. 16 arrest. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on September 16, 2024 in a Threads post: “Donald Trump posted this photo of Taylor Swift saying that she was crying because she lost over $150 million worth of merchandise.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 13, 2024 in an Instagram post: Says Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said, “Who else thinks the downfall of America started with Barack Obama?” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 17, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 16, 2024 in an X post: The FBI said it would “visit” Elon Musk for writing on X, “No one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 17, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 15, 2024 in a Facebook post: Former President Donald Trump posted “0-2” Sept. 15 on Truth Social. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 16, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 8, 2024 in a Threads post: “Elon Musk is going to expose Bill Gates soon, says ‘he’s evil.’” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 6, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Gordon Ramsay calls Tim Walz a ‘woke creep,’ throws him out of Hell’s Kitchen.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 7, 2024 in a Threads post: Photo shows Elton John wearing a “MAGA” jacket. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 30, 2024 in a Facebook post: Video shows tornadoes in Canada. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 12, 2024 ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/322c808c00e73c217d17772ddd5a0eb5.jpg\\") ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/8b142c91ebe468a84a192e6df2b7b994.jpg\\") Instagram posts stated on September 8, 2024 in an Instagram post: Video shows a Ku Klux Klan member at a rally for former President Donald Trump. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 7, 2024 in a Threads post: Elon Musk said, “Anyone caught promoting propaganda will be suspended from X.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 6, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Elon Musk to fund new anti-woke show featuring Tucker Carlson.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 2, 2024 in an Instagram post: Image shows “Michelle Obama’s necklace from DNC speech” said “Mike.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 11, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 16, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Country Music Television (CMT) has announced a permanent boycott of Taylor Swift.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 11, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Disney World officially moving to Nashville.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on September 16, 2024 in Threads post: Images show Sean Combs’ booking photos after Sept. 16 arrest. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 ### No, the same woman didn’t pretend to be a shooting victim and the mothers of shooting victims * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 16, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Country Music Television (CMT) has announced a permanent boycott of Taylor Swift.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 11, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Disney World officially moving to Nashville.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Bernie Moreno stated on September 9, 2024 in an Instagram post: “Illegal” Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, are “reportedly killing and eating pets.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Seth A. Richardson • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 17, 2024 in an Instagram post: Karine Jean-Pierre, President Joe Biden’s press secretary, ended a press conference when a reporter asked about Donald Trump’s assassination attempt. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on September 12, 2024 in a post on Threads: An image shows Taylor Swift responding to Elon Musk\'s X post about giving her a child by saying she\'s happy to take his daughter Vivian and ‘give her all the love and respect she deserves.’ ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Andy Nguyen • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Tony Perkins stated on September 11, 2024 in a Facebook post: “In 12 states, children born alive after a failed abortion have no legal protection, and in three more states children born alive after an abortion had legal rights that governors — like Tim Walz — repealed.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sara Swann • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on September 16, 2024 in Threads post: Images show Sean Combs’ booking photos after Sept. 16 arrest. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on August 28, 2024 in an ad: “Kamala Harris has promised amnesty for the 10 million illegals she allowed in as border czar, making them eligible for Social Security. Studies warn this will lead to cuts in your Social Security benefits.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Maria Ramirez Uribe • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on September 13, 2024 in a rally in Las Vegas: Vice President Kamala Harris is “talking about bringing back the draft.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Louis Jacobson • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 15, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: \"ABC elimina a los moderadores del debate David Muir y Linsey Davis\". ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Sofia Ahmed • September 18, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. Become a member! In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. Sign me up #### Offices District of Columbia 1800 I Street NW Washington, DC 20006 Florida 801 3rd St. S St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-821-9494 #### People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis #### State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin #### About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters #### RSS Feeds * Recent Articles and Fact-checks * Recent Fact-checks Suggest a Fact-check #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Copyright ©All Rights Reserved Poynter Institute 2020, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization ![\\"\\"](\\" ✕ * * *
A crisis actor played the parts of a shooting victim and the mothers of shooting victims in Las Vegas Orlando and Thousand Oaks