Officials in Minnesota say a man dressed as a police officer targeted two state legislators overnight Friday in a politically motivated attack. Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were fatally shot in their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, while Sen. John Hoffman—who is also a Democrat—and his wife, Yvette, were shot and wounded at their Champlin, Minnesota residence.
Hortman, who was 55, represented Minnesota House District 34B. At a press conference Saturday, Gov. Tim Walz described her as “someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor, and a sense of service. She was a formidable public servant. A fixture and a giant in Minnesota.” With husband Mark, she shared two children, according to her campaign website.
The 60-year-old Hoffman represents Minnesota Senate District 34. Both he and his wife were shot multiple times, Walz says. “We are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt.”
According to a Facebook post from the city of Brooklyn Park, the municipality issued a shelter in place order as officials searched for the suspect, who CNN reports is a white man with brown hair wearing a blue shirt and pants, as well as a black tactical vest.” He is believed to be representing himself as law enforcement. As of publication time, he remains at large.
According to CBS, police caught sight of the suspect outside Hoffman’s home, when they saw “what appeared to be a police SUV with emergency lights on.” The suspect, who they believe had been driving the vehicle, fled Hoffman’s home, exchanging gunfire with officers as he fled on foot. A manifesto listing “many lawmakers and other officials” was discovered in the vehicle, CNN reports.
Via X, FBI deputy director Dan Bongino says the agency is “fully engaged on the ground in Minnesota.”
“This was a targeted, politically motivated shooting,” Walz said Saturday morning. ”It’s possible in politically charged times to find compromise, democracy and civil discourse. I, Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more information is available.
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