Charlotte teen mistaken for outspoken Parkland shooting survivor

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte teen is defending himself from online trolls who are confusing him with a Florida mass shooting survivor.

UNC-Charlotte student and 16-year-old David Hogg said that since the Valentine's Day school shooting in Parkland, Florida, he has faced harassment and bullying online from people who think he is the gun control advocate and Stoneman Douglas High School student with the same name.

“People can hide behind social media accounts and can say to you what they can't say in person,” Hogg said.

“People told me I should change my name and I was, like, 'I don't know, I have had this name my whole life,'” he said. “I don't really want to change it.”

Hogg is a conservative and a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and an opponent of gun restrictions, which is a far different view than the teenager from Florida.

“A gun doesn't kill somebody, a person kills somebody,” Hogg from Charlotte said.

He does believe in stronger background checks and more security at schools.

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