Democratic state representative Melissa Hortman has died, as has her husband, Mark, Minnesota state’s governor, Tim Walz, confirmed at a press conference on Saturday.
Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot multiple times. Walz said the couple were out of surgery and he was ‘cautiously optimistic’ both will survive. The shooter is still at large and police said the shooter had impersonated a police officer
Reports said the early morning attacks occurred nearly simultaneously in the suburban towns of Champlin and Brooklyn Park.
Early investigations reveal that the perpetrator, now the subject of a large-scale manhunt, posed as a law enforcement officer to gain entry to both residences. Once inside, he reportedly opened fire without warning.
Officials sources from the Hennepin County Medical Center confirmed that all individuals involved were taken to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Both Hoffman and Hortman are Democrats representing District 34 and District 34B, respectively. The two are well-known in Minnesota’s political scene for their shared advocacy for community safety and police accountability—issues that may now lie at the center of investigators’ efforts to understand the motive behind the shootings.
“These were not random events,” said Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson Lt. Carla Morrison. “We are pursuing this case under the assumption that these attacks were deliberate and politically motivated.”
A huge manhunt has begun to find the assailant with local and federal agencies— including the FBI and ATF—joining the search. Police have released limited information on the suspect but confirmed he used falsified credentials resembling police ID to enter both homes. Authorities have urged residents to remain alert and report any suspicious behavior.
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Governor Tim Walz, in a press briefing Saturday morning, condemned the attacks as “abhorrent acts of terror against public servants,” calling for unity and swift justice. “Our state will not be intimidated by violence,” Walz said.
Security experts say the coordinated nature of the assaults raises troubling questions about political violence in the United States, particularly at a time when threats against elected officials have risen dramatically.
“This signals an escalation that all public officials should take seriously,” noted Cheryl Lawson, a political risk analyst at the Brennan Institute. “What we’re witnessing is no longer just verbal threats online—it’s real, physical violence.”
The attacks have sent shockwaves through Capitol Hill. Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a joint statement expressing solidarity and calling for bipartisan efforts to enhance elected officials’ security, especially at home.
Minnesota’s political community remains on high alert, with increased police presence in neighborhoods housing other state and local officials. Investigators are currently combing through surveillance footage and electronic records, hoping to trace the suspect’s movements before and after the shootings.
As the state waits for answers, residents across Minnesota are reeling. “It’s terrifying,” said Clara Nguyen, a neighbor of Representative Hortman. “We never thought something like this could happen right here.”
Authorities have promised regular updates as the investigation unfolds. For now, Senator Hoffman and Representative Hortman remain hospitalized—survivors of a brutal message sent in the darkest hours of the night.
FrankTalk
