A devastating act of political violence has shaken Minnesota and the nation as a gunman posing as a police officer killed former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, while wounding State Senator John Hoffman and his wife in what authorities are calling a politically motivated assassination.
The tragic events unfolded Saturday morning in the Minneapolis suburbs of Champlin and Brooklyn Park, sending residents into lockdown as law enforcement launched an intensive manhunt for the suspect. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed the deaths during an emotional press conference, describing the attack as “an unspeakable tragedy” that has devastated the state’s political community.
Melissa Hortman, who served as the top House Democratic leader and former House Speaker, was first elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 2004. Her decades of public service made her a respected figure across party lines. Senator John Hoffman, also a Democrat elected in 2012, previously served as vice chair of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, overseeing Minnesota’s largest school district. Both lawmakers were targeted in their homes during the early morning hours.
The suspect’s calculated approach has particularly disturbed law enforcement officials. Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson revealed that the gunman exploited public trust by impersonating a police officer, complete with authentic-looking uniform, badge, and a vehicle equipped with emergency lights that appeared identical to a police squad car. This deception allowed the suspect to gain access to the lawmakers’ residences.
Police Chief Mark Bruley described how the suspect fled from the back of Hortman’s house following an exchange of gunfire with responding officers. The gunman is described as a white male with brown hair, wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants. Authorities have warned residents that he remains armed and extremely dangerous, urging anyone who spots him to immediately contact 911 rather than approach.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, confirmed that autopsies would determine the full extent of injuries, though both Hortman and her husband died from gunshot wounds. Multiple eyewitnesses reported that Hoffman and his wife were shot five to six times but survived their injuries.
President Donald Trump quickly condemned the violence, stating he had been briefed on what appears to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers. Trump emphasized that “such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America,” while Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the FBI is actively investigating alongside state and local partners.
The attack has resonated deeply within political circles, drawing comparisons to the 2011 shooting of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. The GIFFORDS organization, led by the former representative who survived a targeted assassination attempt, released a statement calling the attack “an assault on American democracy itself.”
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican, crossed party lines to condemn what she called an “evil” attack, expressing heartbreak over the loss of her Democratic colleagues. Democratic leaders including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have characterized the shootings as acts of political extremism that threaten democratic institutions.
The incident occurs during a period of heightened political tensions nationwide, with elected officials increasingly facing harassment, intimidation, and violence. The targeted nature of these attacks, combined with the suspect’s law enforcement impersonation, has raised serious concerns about the safety of public servants and the integrity of democratic processes.
As the manhunt continues, Minnesota communities remain under shelter-in-place orders while federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies coordinate their response. The FBI’s involvement underscores the national significance of this attack on elected officials, with authorities promising to prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangerous climate facing public servants and the urgent need to address political violence that threatens the foundation of American democracy.