Minnesota lawmakers "targeted" in shooting that killed Melissa Hortman
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Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman: Photos: Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota state House Democratic Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed in their suburban Twin Cities home on Saturday in one of two "targeted" attacks against sitting Democratic legislators.
The latest: Gov. Tim Walz (D) confirmed the Hortmans' deaths in a Saturday morning press conference, and said Sen. John Hoffman and wife Yvette were shot multiple times in their Champlin home.
- He said the Hoffmans were out of surgery and authorities were "cautiously optimistic" they would survive.
The big picture: A 57-year-old Minnesota man, Vance Luther Boelter, has been identified as a suspect in the attacks. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Details: Law enforcement described a chilling series of events in which a suspect dressed like a police officer and driving an SUV similar to a police squad vehicle showed up at the lawmakers' homes.
- The first call came at 2am, saying that Hoffman and his wife had been shot, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension superintendent Drew Evans said.
- Officers intuitively went to check on Hortman's Brooklyn Park home five or six miles away and arrived to find a police vehicle outside. Someone appearing to be an officer was coming out, said Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley.
- Officers confronted the person and they exchanged fire. The suspect retreated into the home, he said, and escaped.
Zoom in: When officers searched the vehicle, they found a manifesto identifying "many lawmakers and other officials," Bruley said.
- An official who saw the list told Axios it included prominent individuals who support abortion rights in Minnesota, including many Democratic lawmakers who have been outspoken about those policy positions.
- Walz said the shooting appears to be a "politically motivated assassination."
- "Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a sense of service," he said.
- "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."
Context: Hortman, 55, served as House speaker from 2019 until this year, when she assumed the role of House Democrats' caucus leader amid a rare tie in the chamber.
- Hoffman, 60, chairs the Senate's Human Services committee and represents the northwest Twin Cities suburbs.
What they're saying: House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) said on X that she is "shocked and horrified by the evil attack that took place overnight."
- "Please lift up in prayer the victims, as well as the law enforcement personnel working to apprehend the perpetrator," she wrote.
- "I am devastated to hear of the targeted shootings of State Senator John Hoffman and House Speaker Melissa Hortman," U.S. Rep. Angie Craig posted on X. "They are great public servants and friends. And today's news is shocking."
What we're watching: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X that she is "closely monitoring developments in Minnesota after what appears to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers."
- "The FBI is on the ground investigating this case alongside state and local partners. This horrific violence will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Zoom out: The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested one person in connection with threats against state lawmakers who planned to attend Austin's anti-Trump "No Kings" protest on Saturday. The threats saw the Texas state capitol briefly evacuated.
- Meanwhile, the Minnesota shootings prompted lawmakers in both parties to describe to Axios' Andrew Solender on Saturday the growing unease on Capitol Hill about the increasingly volatile political atmosphere in the U.S. — and what it means for their security.
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.