Texas Rep. Falls For Hoax Misidentifying Alleged Church Gunman

In the aftermath of the massacre at a Baptist church in rural Texas, Rep. Vicente González, a Democrat who represents parts of South Texas, identified the shooter as Sam Hyde, a name that has circulated after other mass shootings in the U.S. and is a hoax.

It's not clear how González learned that the gunman's name was Sam Hyde.

"It was reported to me that he's actually not from this community. Apparently his name was released as Sam Hyde, that was the name I was given," González said on CNN Sunday afternoon.

BuzzFeed News editor Brandon Wall spotted González's error and posted a clip of the congressman making the statement.

In an article tracking all the hoaxes going around about the Texas shooting, BuzzFeed News notes that after numerous mass shootings it is circulated on social media that the prankster and comedian Sam Hyde is the alleged shooter when he is not. The publication also notes that posts, often originating from the website 4chan, flood Twitter claiming that "Sam Hyde" is the shooter.

Hyde is a real person. The New York Times described him as "an absurdist comedian whose jokes often lean far right politically." His name has surfaced on social media after past mass shootings, including the shootings in San Bernardino and Las Vegas. Social media posts that identify Hyde as the shooter often features photos of the comedian holding firearms.

A law enforcement source identified the gunman as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelly to Patch.

People who spotted González's gaffe weren't pleased.

Also See: Man Describes Chase For Texas Church Suspect

Photo: House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. administers the House oath of office to Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, during a mock swearing in ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, as the 115th Congress began. Photo by Zach Gibson/Associated Press