Two Democratic lawmakers shot in their Minnesota homes, one died

Two Democratic state lawmakers were shot at their homes in Minnesota on Saturday, June 14. According to state governor Tim Walz, former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, and a second lawmaker and his wife were shot and wounded. Authorities were actively searching for a suspect. Walz said the attacks were “politically motivated.”

“We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence,” Walz said at a press conference. “Those responsible for this will be held accountable.”

Hortman was the top House Democratic leader in the state Legislature and a former House speaker. She was first elected in 2004.

The wounded lawmaker was identified as state Senator John Hoffman, a Democrat, was first elected in 2012. He previously served as vice chair of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, which manages the largest school district in Minnesota. Hoffman is married and has one daughter. Walz said officials remained “cautiously optimistic” they would recover.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said Hoffman and his wife were shot first, and as police investigated, Hortman and her husband were shot about 90 minutes later.

Suspect posed as law enforcement officer

Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said at the press conference that the suspect was posing as a law enforcement officer. “The suspect exploited the trust of our uniforms, what our uniforms are meant to represent. That betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility,” he said.

Police Chief Mark Bruley said the suspect fled out of the back of Hortman’s house after an exchange of gunfire with police. He was dressed like a uniformed officer and operating a vehicle that “looked exactly like an SUV squad car. It was equipped with lights, emergency lights and looked exactly like a police vehicle,” Bruley said.

Police are looking for a white man with brown hair, wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants, local TV station KSTP said.

The FBI has joined in the investigation, according to a statement posted by Dan Bonginio, the agency’s deputy director.

US President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi decried what they called “horrific violence” and said the perpetrators would be prosecuted to “the fullest extent of the law.”

“At this precipice moment we’re on, this tragic act here in Minnesota should serve as a reminder to all of us,” Walz said. “The democracy and the debates in the halls of Congress, in state houses, in school boards, is a way to settle our differences peacefully and move society to a better place.”