Early Saturday morning, a tragic shooting incident in Minnesota left one state lawmaker dead and another seriously injured. Melissa Hortman, leader of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) and former Speaker of the House, was fatally shot at her home in Brooklyn Park. Sen. John Hoffman, also a DFL member, was wounded in a separate shooting at his residence in Champlin, approximately eight miles away.
The assailant, who posed as a police officer to carry out the attacks, remains at large. Both Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in the assault on their home. Sen. Hoffman and his spouse sustained several gunshot wounds and underwent surgery. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed their survival of the assassination attempt, expressing cautious optimism about their recovery.
Brooklyn Park Police Department, in response to the shootings, issued a shelter-in-place directive within a 3-mile radius of Edinburgh Golf Course. Local residents have been warned that the suspect is considered armed and dangerous and are urged to avoid confrontation.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, along with local police agencies, is coordinating protective custody for all state legislators. Gov. Walz has assured the public that Champlin and Brooklyn Park law enforcement have full state support. The FBI has joined the investigation, assisting state and local authorities in the manhunt.
Zach Lindstrom, Mayor of Mounds View, expressed his shock and sympathies on social media. The incident has reverberated through the state, with officials and citizens alike grappling with the implications of such violence against elected officials.
Details on the suspect are scant. Described as a white male wearing a blue shirt, blue pants, and black body armor, he successfully deceived his victims by impersonating a law enforcement officer. The motive behind the shootings is still unknown, as investigators work to uncover whether the attacks were specifically targeted or random.
As the investigation unfolds, officials maintain that public safety is paramount. They encourage anyone with information or who observes suspicious activity to contact authorities immediately. Additional information will be disclosed as the search for the suspect progresses.
