Minnesota Lawmakers Targeted in Apparent Political Assassination Attempt; Rep. Melissa Hortman Killed, Sen. John Hoffman Wounded

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff   

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: Jerry Holt

In a shocking act of targeted political violence, Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot, and State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were seriously wounded in their home early Saturday morning, according to state and federal law enforcement officials.

Authorities say the attack was politically motivated and that the suspect had compiled a list of high-profile Minnesota Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, and Attorney General Keith Ellison. The list, retrieved from the suspect’s vehicle which was disguised as a police cruiser and parked outside Hortman's home also named both shooting victims.

"This was a deliberate act of political violence," said Gov. Walz at a press briefing from the State Emergency Operations Center in Blaine. "We are not a country that settles our differences at gunpoint. We will spare no resource in bringing those responsible to justice."

The violence began around 2 a.m. Saturday in Champlin, where Sen. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot multiple times in what authorities are calling an attempted assassination. The couple remains hospitalized, and officials say they are "cautiously optimistic" about their recovery.

Responding to the attack, officers initiated proactive welfare checks on other possible targets. Around 3:35 a.m., police encountered a man dressed as a law enforcement officer leaving Rep. Hortman’s residence in Brooklyn Park. A firefight ensued, and the suspect fled on foot, sparking a widespread manhunt. The area remains under a shelter-in-place order.

Inside the suspect's vehicle, authorities discovered a detailed list of at least a dozen prominent Democratic leaders in Minnesota. Law enforcement sources say they are investigating whether the shooter was motivated by extremist views, possibly related to abortion or other political ideologies.

Rep. Hortman, 54, had served in the Minnesota Legislature since 2005 and was the former Speaker of the House. Her husband, Mark, was also pronounced dead at the scene.

"We have demonstrated time and again that Minnesota is strengthened by civil debate," Gov. Walz said. "This is a moment for unity not fear."

Security has been ramped up for individuals named on the suspect’s list, and Capitol Police are working closely with local, state, and federal agencies.

This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.