Fact Check: "Democratic House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed at their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Saturday morning."
What We Know
On Saturday morning, Democratic House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed at their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. This tragic event occurred during a violent incident that also involved State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, who were shot at their residence in Champlin, Minnesota, by the same assailant. The shooter, who impersonated a police officer, has been identified as Vance Boelter, a 57-year-old man currently sought by authorities (ABC News, Wall Street Journal, KSTP).
Governor Tim Walz described the incident as a "politically motivated assassination" and confirmed that both Hortman and her husband were killed in the attack, while Hoffman and his wife survived but were hospitalized and underwent surgery (KSTP, FOX 9). The couple is survived by their two children (ABC News).
Analysis
The claim regarding the deaths of Melissa Hortman and her husband is supported by multiple credible news sources, including major outlets like ABC News, the Wall Street Journal, and KSTP. These reports provide consistent details about the circumstances of the shooting, the identity of the suspect, and the political implications of the event. The use of terms like "targeted political violence" by Governor Walz adds weight to the claim that this was not a random act of violence but rather a deliberate attack on political figures (KSTP, Tennessee Lookout).
The reliability of the sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a history of accurate reporting. The information has been corroborated across various platforms, including real-time updates from local news stations and national media (FOX 9, WSAW). The ongoing investigation and manhunt for the suspect further validate the seriousness of the situation and the accuracy of the reports.
Conclusion
The claim that Democratic House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed at their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is True. The evidence from multiple reputable sources confirms the details of the incident, including the identities of the victims and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Sources
- What to know about Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman ...
- Minnesota Lawmaker Killed in 'Act of Targeted Political ...
- Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, husband shot and killed
- Live updates on MN lawmaker shootings: Rep. Hortman ...
- Minnesota House Democratic leader dead after 'politically ...
- Minnesota lawmaker, her spouse shot and killed in their ...
- Rep. Hortman, her husband killed: What we know
- Who is Melissa Hortman? Minnesota organizers cancel 'No ...
