Image shows Texas couple, not alleged killer of US politician
- Published on June 18, 2025 at 17:20
- Updated on June 18, 2025 at 18:50
- 5 min read
- By Marisha GOLDHAMER, AFP USA
Copyright © AFP 2017-2025. Any commercial use of this content requires a subscription. Click here to find out more.
"New photo out of Vance Boelter and his wife Jenny at a recent rally," a June 15, 2025 Facebook post claimed.
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.
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).
Micah Efran, 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.
Reached via Facebook Messenger on June 18, Trachtenberg confirmed he is the man pictured and told AFP: "Our family is now taking the steps we must to ensure our safety and to see that this doesn't keep happening to others."
AFP also verified the location of the photo with visual details including the window pattern of the building pictured behind Schechter and Trachtenberg, which matches other images of Houston's city hall.
The picture at the demonstration also matches Schechter's appearance in photos on her website (archived here).
Boelter 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).
This article was updated to add comment from Brian Trachtenberg.June 18, 2025 This article was updated to add comment from Brian Trachtenberg.
Is there content that you would like AFP to fact-check? Get in touch.
Contact us
