Democratic Home Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, have been shot and killed Saturday morning at their house in Brooklyn Park in what Gov. Tim Walz known as a “politically motivated assassination.”
Throughout a information convention Saturday morning, the governor additionally confirmed that DFL State Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse, Yvette, have been additionally shot a number of instances at their house in Champlin. They have been each out of surgical procedure, and Walz stated he was “cautiously optimistic” about their possibilities of survival.
“Our state misplaced an excellent chief, and I misplaced the dearest of associates. Speaker Hortman was somebody who served the state of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a way of service,” Walz stated. “She was a formidable public servant, a fixture and a large in Minnesota. She awoke each day decided to make this state a greater place. She is irreplaceable and might be missed by so many.”
Authorities say each lawmakers and their spouses have been shot by a gunman impersonating a police officer. A manhunt is underway in Brooklyn Park for the particular person accountable.
Hortman was first elected to the Minnesota Home of Representatives in 2004, and she or he served as Home speaker from 2019 to 2025. She and her husband are survived by their two kids.
GOP Rep. Lisa Demuth of Chilly Spring succeeded her as Home speaker throughout the 2025 legislative session below a power-sharing settlement in a tied chamber. In a written assertion, she condemned the assault on her colleague.
“I’m horrified by the evil assault that came about in a single day, and heartbroken past phrases by the lack of Speaker-Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark,” Demuth stated. “With the legislation enforcement response ongoing and particulars nonetheless rising, I’ll merely ask all Minnesotans to please carry up in prayer the victims of this horrific assault, in addition to the legislation enforcement personnel nonetheless working to apprehend the perpetrator.”
Sources inform 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that every one different Minnesota state lawmakers are below protecting custody in coordination with the Minnesota Division of Public Security and native legislation enforcement jurisdictions.
It is a creating, breaking information story. Test again for updates.
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