Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who is campaigning for governor of South Carolina, is facing widespread criticism after she spread unverified claims about an alleged active shooter on the University of South Carolina campus Sunday evening.
Mace used her official X account to share reports that an armed individual was inside the university’s library. She even posted a photo of a person she claimed was the suspect, along with identifying details. The post was later deleted after it was confirmed that the individual was carrying an umbrella, not a firearm.
“Please be safe, and we are praying for safety for our students and the safety of law enforcement as they take swift action to apprehend this individual,” Mace wrote in her initial post. Authorities later clarified that there was no shooter on campus. Mace followed up by calling the situation “confusing” for everyone involved, while thanking law enforcement for their swift response.
“Real, or a hoax, or a mistake, now would be an appropriate time to talk about hardened security at schools of all grades, colleges and universities,” she added. “This was a terrifying experience for students on campus and their families.” But her comments and her decision to amplify unverified information drew sharp rebukes from critics who accused her of recklessness.
“South Carolina police say there is no shooter on the campus of USC,” wrote Travis Akers, a retired Navy intelligence officer. “The image shared by @NancyMace was obtained from X and was of a student carrying an umbrella. The image was not released by law enforcement or an official authority, and could have resulted in him being killed.”
Political consultant Tyler Jones also weighed in, writing, “She deleted it, but my God, how irresponsible can Nancy Mace be?”
Another X user, posting under the name Wu-Tang is for the Children, said, “@NancyMace posted videos of this kid casually walking through campus with his umbrella saying he was a shooter at the University of South Carolina during their active shooter scare earlier that turned out to be a false alarm….kid should sue her a–!”
Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, delivered one of the strongest condemnations. “Now would be an appropriate time to talk about how to appropriately punish you for this false post that could have gotten someone killed,” he wrote. “As the father of Jaime, killed in the Parkland shooting, everything about you and your messaging is the problem. Seek help, as I firmly believe you are in need.”