Fact Check: "Champlin Mayor Ryan Sabas confirmed that state senator John Hoffman and state representative Melissa Hortman were shot in their homes on June 14, 2025."
What We Know
On June 14, 2025, reports emerged that Minnesota state senator John Hoffman and state representative Melissa Hortman were involved in a shooting incident. According to multiple sources, including Politico and Spectrum Local News, Mayor Ryan Sabas of Champlin stated that both lawmakers were shot in their homes. Additionally, it was reported that Hoffman's wife was also injured during the incident. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed that the shooting was targeted and politically motivated, indicating a serious escalation in violence against public officials in the state.
Analysis
The claim that Mayor Ryan Sabas confirmed the shooting of both lawmakers is accurate based on the statements from several credible news sources. For instance, The Seattle Times and Daily Kos corroborate the mayor's assertion regarding the shooting incident involving Hoffman and Hortman.
However, the claim's context is critical. While it is true that both lawmakers were shot, the assertion that they were confirmed to be shot on June 14, 2025, is misleading. As per the reports, the shooting resulted in the death of Melissa Hortman and her husband, while John Hoffman was wounded. This indicates a more severe outcome than the claim suggests, as it implies both lawmakers survived the incident when, in fact, one did not.
The sources used in this analysis are reputable and provide timely updates on the situation. However, the nature of the incident, being politically motivated and resulting in fatalities, raises the stakes of how the information is presented. The reliability of the sources is high, given their established credibility in reporting significant news events.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that "Champlin Mayor Ryan Sabas confirmed that state senator John Hoffman and state representative Melissa Hortman were shot in their homes on June 14, 2025," is misleading. While it is true that Mayor Sabas made statements regarding the shooting, the implication that both lawmakers were shot and survived is incorrect. Melissa Hortman was killed in the incident, which significantly alters the context of the claim.
