2 Minnesota lawmakers and spouses shot in their homes, ex-state House Speaker and husband dead: governor

The Associated Press

· Posted: Jun 14, 2025 11:13 AM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says erstwhile authorities House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her hubby were killed Saturday successful a politically motivated assassination, and a 2nd lawmaker and his woman were changeable and wounded.

"We indispensable all, successful Minnesota and crossed the country, basal against each forms of governmental violence," Walz said astatine a quality conference. "Those liable for this volition beryllium held accountable."

The hunt for the idiosyncratic liable for the shootings is underway.

The wounded lawmaker was identified arsenic authorities Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, who was archetypal elected successful 2012. He runs Hoffman Strategic Advisors, a consulting firm. He antecedently served arsenic vice-chair of the Anoka-Hennepin School Board, which manages the largest schoolhouse territory successful Minnesota. Hoffman is joined and has 1 daughter.

Hortman was the apical House Democratic person successful the authorities Legislature and a erstwhile House Speaker. She was archetypal elected successful 2004.

Both Hoffman and Hortman represented districts located northbound of Minneapolis.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said authorities were actively searching for a suspect. Officials said the fishy was dressed arsenic a instrumentality enforcement officer.

Autopsies volition beryllium done to find grade of injuries, but Hortman and her spouse died from gunshot wounds, Evans said.

Suspect posing arsenic instrumentality enforcement official

Public Safety Commissioner Bob Johnson said the fishy was posing arsenic a instrumentality enforcement officer.

"Suspect exploited the spot of our uniforms, what our uniforms are meant to represent. That betrayal is profoundly disturbing to those of america who deterioration the badge with honour and responsibility," helium said.

The shootings happened astatine a clip erstwhile governmental leaders nationwide person been attacked, harassed and intimidated arsenic determination are heavy governmental divisions.

Giffords, the nationalist weapon unit prevention enactment led by erstwhile Congress member Gabrielle Giffords, said successful a statement: "I americium horrified and heartbroken by past night's onslaught connected 2 patriotic nationalist servants.

"My household and I cognize the fearfulness of a targeted shooting each excessively well. An onslaught against lawmakers is an onslaught connected American ideology itself. Leaders indispensable talk retired and condemn the fomenting convulsive extremism that threatens everything this state stands for."

Giffords was changeable successful the caput successful 2011 by a gunman who killed six radical and injured 12 others. She stepped down from Congress successful January 2012 to absorption connected her recovery.