Tim Walz Says Shootings of Democratic Lawmakers ‘Politically Motivated Assassination’ At Live Presser
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) confirmed the shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers who were shot by a suspect described as impersonating a police officer.
John Hoffman in Champlin and Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman in Brooklyn Park were shot at their homes, along with their spouses, early on Saturday morning. Walz said the shootings “appear to be politically motivated assassinations.” The homicides followed the Department of Homeland Security issuing a warning a few months ago about lawmakers being targeted in their homes. Both lawmakers are Democrats.
Walz confirmed that Hortman and her husband were killed while Hoffman and his spouse are out of surgery after surviving multiple shots.
The governor described Hortman as a dear friend and colleague.
Our state lost a great leader and I lost a dearest of friends. 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. Thoughts and prayers are with her family, her loved ones, her children and her parents. My prayers also go out to state senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who were each shot multiple times. The Hoffman’s are out of surgery at this time and receiving care, and we are cautiously optimistic.
Police said on Saturday that the suspect behind the shooting was impersonating a police officer, sporting a badge and driving an SUV that could be mistaken for a government vehicle. A manhunt is underway to find the suspect. Brooklyn Park Police issued a shelter-in-place alert for a 3-mile radius of the Edinburgh Golf Course at around 5:30 a.m. The suspect had a “manifesto” containing the names of other officials, according to officers. The shootings took place approximately five miles apart. The suspect exchanged gunfire with officers while fleeing Hortman’s home.
The suspect is on foot and could still be impersonating a police officer. Authorities told residents of Brooklyn Park on Saturday to not answer the door for police unless they are in pairs and to call 911 to confirm their identities.
“In the state of Minnesota, and as recently as last week, in the most closely divided state legislature in the country, we sat down, we worked things out, we debated, we shook hands and compromised, and we served the state of Minnesota together,” Walz said on Thursday. “We proved that it’s possible, even in these politically charged times, to find compromise and adhere to the principles of democracy and civil discourse. We must all, Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence.”
Watch above via MSNBC.
