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A Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband were shot and killed overnight in what Gov. Tim Walz said was a “politically motivated assassination.”
Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman were fatally shot in Brooklyn Park by a suspect impersonating a police officer, police said.
In a related shooting, DFL Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot in Champlin. They are expected to survive and are out of surgery. The incidents unfolded at around 2 a.m.
The suspect exchanged gunfire with responding police but fled the scene and is still at large with a massive manhunt now underway.
A shelter-in-place order has been issued within a 3-mile radius of Edinburgh Golf Course.
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The suspect wore black body armor, a badge, a Taser and appeared indistinguishable from real law enforcement, police said. He also drove a police-style SUV with flashing lights.
“Our state lost a great leader,” Walz said at a press briefing Saturday morning, describing the incident as an “unspeakable tragedy. “Speaker Hortman was 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. She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many Minnesotans.”
Meanwhile, Walz said that he was “cautiously optimistic” about Hoffman and his wife surviving. Both were shot multiple times.
“This was an act of targeted political violence,” Walz said. “Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don’t settle their differences with violence or at gunpoint in the state of Minnesota.”
Walz was scheduled to speak at the “No Kings” rally in Minnesota today but canceled. He said that the Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies in the state today until the suspect is apprehended.
Authorities have urged the public not to approach the suspect and to call 911 with any information.
Police said the suspect impersonated a police officer to gain access to the homes.
Law enforcement responded to a shooting at Hoffman’s home in Champlin at 2 a.m. where he and his wife had been shot multiple times.
WATCH: Two Minnesota lawmakers shot, one killed in ‘targeted’ attacks
Officers then conducted a welfare check at Speaker Hortman’s residence in Brooklyn Park at around 3:35 a.m. and saw what appeared to be a police officer and a squad car outside. When they confronted the person, the suspect opened fire on them and police returned fire before the suspect fled the scene.
Police said there was a manifesto in the vehicle that identified many lawmakers and other officials. Police have since alerted them.
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A massive manhunt is underway, involving the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), State Patrol and local departments.
At the time of the press conference, no suspect was in custody, though several people had been detained and questioned.
“The suspect exploited the trust our uniforms represent… This betrayal is deeply disturbing,” Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said.
Residents are being told to not answer the door unless two uniformed officers are present.
President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi said they have been monitoring developments in the case.
“I have been briefed on the terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers,” Trump said in a statement.
“Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!”
Bondi also said it appeared to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers.
“The FBI is on the ground investigating this case alongside state and local partners,” Bondi wrote on X. “This horrific violence will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson also commented on the killings.
“Such horrific political violence has no place in our society, and every leader must unequivocally condemn it,” Johnson wrote on X. “Our prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families as well as the people of Minnesota during this tragic time.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he has asked the House Sergeant at Arms and United States Capitol Police to ensure the safety of the chamber’s Minnesota delegation as well as members of Congress across the country.
The United States Capitol Police said it is aware of the violence targeting state lawmakers in Minnesota.
“We have been working with our federal, state and local partners. For safety reasons, we cannot provide specific details about our security posture.”
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