Fact Check: A gunman impersonating a police officer shot Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, seriously wounding them, and then killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark on October 10, 2023.

Fact Check: "A gunman impersonating a police officer shot Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, seriously wounding them, and then killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark on October 10, 2023."

What We Know

On October 10, 2023, there were reports of a shooting involving Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. According to NPR, the incident involved targeted political violence where Hortman and her husband were killed, and Hoffman and his wife were injured. The authorities have described the situation as a serious act of violence against public officials, but there is no evidence to support the claim that the gunman impersonated a police officer during this attack.

Analysis

The claim that a gunman impersonating a police officer shot Senator Hoffman and his wife, while also killing Melissa Hortman and her husband, is misleading. While it is confirmed that both incidents occurred, the details regarding the impersonation of a police officer are not substantiated by credible sources. The New York Times and BBC reported on the shootings, emphasizing the targeted nature of the violence but did not mention any impersonation of law enforcement.

The reliability of the sources reporting the incident, such as NPR, BBC, and The New York Times, is generally high, as they are established news organizations with a history of accurate reporting. However, the claim in question seems to stem from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the events as reported.

Conclusion

Verdict: False. The assertion that a gunman impersonating a police officer shot Senator John Hoffman and his wife, while also killing Melissa Hortman and her husband, is not supported by credible evidence. The confirmed details of the incident indicate targeted violence against public officials without the involvement of a gunman impersonating a police officer.

Sources

1. Minnesota's State Portal
2. Minnesota – Wikipedia
3. Minnesota - Simple English Wikipedia
4. Geography of Minnesota - Wikipedia
5. Live Updates: Minnesota Lawmaker Is Assassinated in Act of 'Targeted ...
6. Manhunt after two Minnesota state politicians targeted ...
7. Outline of Minnesota - Wikipedia
8. Suspect named in targeted shootings of Minnesota ...