Minnesota Speaker Emerita Assassinated as Police Look for Suspect In ‘Politcally Motivated’ Killings

Democratic Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were shot and killed early Saturday at their home in Brooklyn Park by a man posing as a police officer, authorities confirmed Saturday morning.

Democratic State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also targeted. The couple was shot presumably by the same man at their home in nearby Champlin, Minnesota, police said at a Saturday morning press conference.

Both Hoffmans survived and were hospitalized in stable condition.

Melissa Hortman served in the Minnesota House of Representatives beginning in 2005. She served as the Speaker of the Minnesota House from January 2019 until January of this year.

CNN reported police had identified “persons of interest” in the shootings, but no one had been arrested.

Authorities said the shooter posed as a police officer conducting a welfare check to gain entry to both homes. The suspect was dressed in tactical gear and used false credentials. Investigators believe the attacks were
“politically motivated.”

The gunman remains at large. A shelter-in-place order was issued for parts of Brooklyn Park, and the State Emergency Operations Center was activated. Residents were advised not to open their doors to anyone without verification from multiple officers.

Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the shootings appeared to be targeted and directed state resources to assist in the investigation.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are also involved.

No motive has been officially confirmed, but both lawmakers had received threats in recent months, according to law enforcement. Authorities have not said whether those threats were connected to the suspect.

Hoffman and Hortman, both Democrats, had served for several years in the Minnesota Legislature. Their families have not released public statements.

Police were searching for the suspect, who has not yet been identified, and urged anyone with information to contact authorities.

Authorities also said that they recovered a manifesto with the names of other lawmakers that they believe belonged to the shooter.

Watch the clip above via CNN.