Two Democratic Party lawmakers were injured in separate shootings at their homes in Minnesota by a gunman believed to be impersonating a police officer.
Sources told local outlet Fox 9 KMSP that state Senator John Hoffman and his spouse were shot at their home in Champlin, north of Minneapolis, in the small hours of Saturday morning.
Another shooting was later reported about eight miles to the south at the Brooklyn Park home of State Representative Melissa Hortman. She and her husband were reportedly also injured.
The shootings come just hours before millions are expected to attend a spate of protests across more than 2,000 cities around the country, coinciding with a Washington, D.C., military parade to mark the Army’s 250th anniversary, which also happens to fall on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz posted to X that he had been briefed on the incidents, describing them as “targeted shootings.”
“The Minnesota Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement are on the scene,” he wrote. “We will share more information soon.”
In a subsequent update, he added that the State Emergency Operations Center has been activated, and that “local law enforcement in Champlin and Brooklyn Park have the full resources of the State of Minnesota behind them.”
I’ve been briefed this morning on an ongoing situation involving targeted shootings in Champlin and Brooklyn Park. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement are on the scene. We will share more information soon.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) June 14, 2025
“We are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information soon,” he added.
While local authorities have not officially commented on the incident, the Brooklyn Park Police Department, the lead agency on the investigation, sent out a shelter-in-place alert earlier this morning covering a three-mile radius around the neighbourhood’s Edinburgh Golf Course.
I’ve activated the State Emergency Operations Center.Local law enforcement in Champlin and Brooklyn Park have the full resources of the State of Minnesota behind them. We are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information soon.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) June 14, 2025
The suspect, believed to have disguised himself as a law-enforcement official, is a white man with brown hair, wearing black body armor over a blue shirt. He has not been apprehended and is considered armed and dangerous.
Authorities have instructed local residents not to answer the door for anyone saying they are police unless there are two officers present and to call 911 to confirm the identity of the officer if there is only one.
I’m just learning of the events that took place last night due to getting a safety alert for elected officials. I never thought we’d be here. My prayers are with the Hortman, and Hoffman families. I hope everyone comes out of this ok. I cannot emphasize enough that this is not…
— Mayor Zach Lindstrom (@MoundsViewMayor) June 14, 2025
“I never thought we’d be here,” local mayor Zach Lindstrom said in a statement on X. “My prayers are with the Hortman, and Hoffman families. I hope everyone comes out of this ok. I cannot emphasize enough that this is not ok.”
“Any type of violence against elected officials is not ok. Any type of violence against other people is not ok,” he went on. “My understanding is that its someone cos-playing as a officer [sic] and they haven’t been caught. For those going out to protest today please do it safely and if something looks off say something we do not need anyone else to get hurt.”
The Daily Beast has reached out to Hortman and Hoffman’s offices for comment on the shootings.
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