Fact Check: "An undocumented man tried to kill U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III."
What We Know
On June 17, 2025, U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III was involved in a life-threatening incident in downtown Albany, New York. According to reports, an individual named Saul Morales-Garcia, described as an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, allegedly lunged at Sarcone while brandishing a knife and shouting in a foreign language (source-1). Sarcone managed to escape to a nearby hotel lobby and contacted law enforcement. Morales-Garcia was subsequently apprehended and charged with attempted second-degree murder, among other charges (source-4).
However, the attempted murder charge was later dropped by the Albany County district attorney after reviewing surveillance footage of the incident, which did not support Sarcone's account of being lunged at (source-3). Morales-Garcia eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree menacing (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that an undocumented man attempted to kill U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III is based on the initial reports of the incident, which described Morales-Garcia's actions as life-threatening. Sarcone himself stated, “I feared for my life but I couldn’t let this individual harm and potentially kill others” (source-1). This assertion was supported by the immediate charges of attempted murder against Morales-Garcia.
However, the subsequent dropping of the attempted murder charge raises questions about the severity of the threat posed by Morales-Garcia. Surveillance footage reportedly showed him brandishing an object but did not capture a clear act of aggression toward Sarcone (source-3). This discrepancy suggests that while Sarcone perceived a significant threat, the legal system ultimately did not support the claim of attempted murder.
The reliability of the sources varies; while the official statement from the U.S. Attorney's office (source-1) provides a direct account of the incident, reports from local news outlets (source-3, source-2) offer critical context that challenges the narrative presented by Sarcone. The New York Times article, in particular, highlights the political implications and criticisms surrounding Sarcone's handling of the incident, suggesting a potential bias in his portrayal of events (source-2).
Conclusion
The claim that an undocumented man attempted to kill U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III is True in the sense that Morales-Garcia was charged with attempted murder immediately following the incident. However, the subsequent legal developments, including the dropping of the charge and the lack of corroborating evidence from surveillance footage, complicate the narrative. While Sarcone's fear for his life was genuine, the legal system's response indicates that the threat may not have been as severe as initially portrayed. Thus, while the claim holds some truth, it is essential to consider the broader context and subsequent legal outcomes.
Sources
- United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III Attacked by a ...
- In Rare Move, Judges Reject a Trump Pick for U.S. Attorney
- Attempted murder charge tossed in U.S. attorney incident
- Man accused of attempted murder in attack on US attorney for NY
- U.S. prosecutor attacked with knife in Albany; suspect ...
- Interim U.S. Attorney for Northern New York Allegedly ...
- US attorney narrowly escapes knife attack by illegal ...
