Fact Check: "Yvette and John Hoffman were shot 17 times during an assassination attempt on Minnesota lawmakers on Saturday, with John being hit by 9 bullets and Yvette by 8 bullets."
What We Know
On a Saturday morning, an assassination attempt occurred involving Minnesota lawmakers State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Reports confirm that both were shot a total of 17 times, with John being hit by 9 bullets and Yvette by 8 bullets. Yvette Hoffman stated, "John is enduring many surgeries right now... He took 9 bullet hits. I took 8 and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive" (BBC). The attack also resulted in the deaths of another couple, Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were shot at their home shortly after the Hoffmans were attacked (New York Times).
The shooter, identified as Vance Luther Boelter, impersonated a police officer during the attacks and is currently on the run, with a manhunt underway (BBC, New York Times). The police have indicated that the attacks were politically motivated, as Boelter had a target list that included various Democratic politicians (BBC, New York Times).
Analysis
The claim that Yvette and John Hoffman were shot 17 times, with John receiving 9 bullets and Yvette 8, is substantiated by multiple credible sources. Yvette Hoffman's own statement, which was shared on social media, confirms the details of their injuries (BBC). The BBC, a well-respected international news organization, reported on the incident with direct quotes from Yvette, making it a reliable source for this information.
Additionally, the New York Times corroborates the details of the shooting and the identities of the victims, further supporting the accuracy of the claim (New York Times). Other news outlets, including Time and ABC News, have also reported on the incident, consistently mentioning the number of bullets each victim sustained (Time, ABC News).
The consistency across these reputable sources enhances the credibility of the claim. There is no evidence presented in any of the sources that contradicts the reported details of the shooting.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Yvette and John Hoffman were shot 17 times during an assassination attempt, with John hit by 9 bullets and Yvette by 8, is accurate. This is supported by direct statements from the victims and corroborated by multiple reputable news sources reporting on the incident.
Sources
- Minnesota assassination survivor and husband shot 17 times - BBC
- Manhunt for Suspect in Political Assassination Rattles Minnesota - New York Times
- What we know about the attack on two Minnesota lawmakers - BBC
- Political Assassination Rattles Minnesota - New York Times
- Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman Killed, FBI Hunt Suspect - Time
- Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman killed, State Sen. John Hoffman ... - ABC News
- Minnesota lawmaker shootings: Sen. Hoffman's wife ... - Fox 9
- Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman killed, state Sen. John ... - CBS News