Fact Check: "State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot at their home on Saturday, while state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded in a separate attack at their home."
What We Know
On Saturday morning, October 14, 2023, Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot at their home in Brooklyn Park. This tragic event was confirmed by Governor Tim Walz, who expressed his condolences and described Hortman as a significant leader in Minnesota politics (source-1). In a related incident, State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also attacked at their home in Champlin, approximately nine miles away, where they sustained multiple gunshot wounds but survived (source-2, source-4).
Law enforcement officials reported that the suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, posed as a police officer during the attacks and was later identified as a person of interest in the case (source-2, source-5). A manifesto containing the names of other state politicians was found in Boelter's vehicle, indicating a politically motivated attack (source-2).
Analysis
The claim regarding the fatal shooting of Melissa Hortman and her husband, along with the wounding of John Hoffman and his wife, is supported by multiple credible sources. Governor Walz's statements, reported by the Minnesota House of Representatives, affirm the deaths of the Hortmans and the injuries sustained by the Hoffmans (source-1).
Moreover, the BBC and other news outlets corroborate these details, providing eyewitness accounts and statements from the survivors, which further validate the events described (source-2, source-4). The New York Times also reported on the incident, confirming that the shootings were part of a targeted attack against the lawmakers (source-3).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a history of accurate reporting. The situation has been covered extensively in the media, and the consistency of the reports across various outlets adds to the credibility of the information.
Conclusion
The claim that State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot, while State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded in a separate attack, is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms the tragic events that occurred on October 14, 2023, and highlights the politically motivated nature of the attacks.
Sources
- Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, husband killed in attack
- Minnesota assassination survivor and husband shot 17 times
- Political Assassination Rattles Minnesota - The New York Times
- Manhunt after two Minnesota state politicians targeted ...
- Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman Killed, FBI Hunt Suspect
- Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband assassinated; Sen. John Hoffman, his wife shot
- Minnesota Rep. Hortman and husband killed, Sen. ...
