MAGA Rips Walz for Stating Son Had ‘Witnessed’ Shooting During VP Debate
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made a startling revelation on Tuesday during the CBS vice presidential debate against Trump running mate JD Vance.
Walz said that his son, Gus Walz, had been a “witness” to a shooting.
The Post Millenial’s Andy Ngo highlighted this moment, writing on X, “Walz has never discussed this before and did not give further details.”
“But based on what he did say, it may be referencing the January 2023 shooting outside the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center in St. Paul,” Ngo noted. “The volleyball/basketball court is inside the center, however.”
Other commentators also raised doubts about the accuracy of Walz’s statement during Tuesday night’s debate.
“Here we go again,” Kyle Becker posted. “Police records show the shooting occurred outside the rec center and his son never ‘witnessed’ it.”
The disclosure from Walz came during a discussion on gun control with Vance.
The debate moment gained national attention, drawing the public’s eye to a traumatic experience that Walz’s family has endured and reshaping the debate’s tone.
Walz, a Democrat, described the ordeal with visible emotion, saying, “I think all the parents watching tonight, this is your biggest nightmare.”
“I got a 17-year-old, and he witnessed a shooting at a community center playing volleyball,” he continued. “Those things don’t leave you.”
TwinCities reported that Walz was referring to an incident in January 2023 when his son, then 16, was at the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center in St. Paul when a city employee shot another teenager in the head.
The shooter, identified as Exavir Dwayne Binford Jr., 26 at the time, was a St. Paul parks employee.
He shot 16-year-old JuVaughn Turner after a physical altercation at the Oxford Community Center, across the street from Central High School.
Turner survived the shooting but was left with lasting brain injuries.
Binford was initially charged with attempted murder but later pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, per the outlet.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this year.
Walz’s son, Gus, was close to the scene and assisted in keeping others calm during the chaotic moments following the shooting, according to David Albornoz, a longtime youth athletics coach in St. Paul.
“He helped keep everyone safe and calm, looking after the kids in the gym with us as I rushed out,” Albornoz said, as outlined by TwinCities.
Albornoz was one of three individuals honored by the St. Paul Fire Department for providing life-saving aid to Turner.
Others, however, have their doubts about the story.
“A shot was fired, outside. He did not witness it,” one user said on X in an attempt to debunk Walz’s claim.
Another noted, “There are no windows that could’ve viewed the shooting took place outside.”
The shooting at the community center gained renewed attention as Walz brought it up during the vice presidential debate.
TwinCities added that Walz had previously mentioned the incident during a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, accusing his opponent of not taking gun violence seriously enough.
“Too many of us have been there,” Walz said. “My own son was in a location where someone was shot in the head.”
While Walz has been open about the trauma his son faced, this is the first time the story has drawn national attention.
Minnesota Public Radio had previously reported that Walz shared details of the incident earlier this year, but the vice presidential debate gave it a larger platform.
The debate, which largely centered on policy differences, saw Vance offering a rare moment of bipartisanship when he extended his sympathies to Walz and his family.
“Tim, first of all, I didn’t know that your 17-year-old witnessed the shooting. And I’m sorry about that and hope he’s doing OK,” Vance said. “Christ, have mercy. It is awful.”
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