A Minnesota lawmaker and her husband were fatally shot, and another lawmaker and his wife were wounded in separate early-morning attacks Saturday that officials described as acts of “targeted political violence.”
The victims were Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman of Champlin, and state Rep. and Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park, according to Champlin Mayor Ryan Sabas.
Sabas told The Associated Press that the two lawmakers—both Democrats—were shot in their homes early Saturday.
“We’re here today because an unspeakable tragedy has unfolded,” Walz said. “My good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed early this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination.”
Walz added in the presser that Hoffman and his wife had been shot multiple times and were out of surgery and receiving care. “We are cautiously optimistic that they will survive this assassination attempt,” he said, describing the incident as an act of “targeted political violence.”
“Local law enforcement in Champlin and Brooklyn Park have the full resources of the state of Minnesota behind them,” he wrote, adding: “We are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information soon.”
Law enforcement officers including local police, sheriffs, and the FBI, stage less than a mile from a shooting in Brooklyn Park, Minn., on June 14, 2025. Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP
“My understanding is that it’s someone cosplaying as an officer and they haven’t been caught,” he wrote. “I cannot emphasize enough that this is not OK. Any type of violence against elected officials is not OK. Any type of violence against other people is not OK.”
A shelter-in-place alert was sent on Saturday morning by the Brooklyn Park Police Department, which noted that the gunman “may misrepresent himself as law enforcement.”
“BKP PD issuing shelter in place order in three-mile radius of Edinburgh Golf Course for emergency event. Police are looking for a suspect in multiple targeted shootings who is armed and dangerous. Suspect is white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants, and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement. Do not approach. Call 911,” reads the alert.
Law enforcement officers including local police, sheriffs, and the FBI, stage less than a mile from a shooting in Brooklyn Park, Minn., on June 14, 2025. Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP
Hortman, the top Democratic leader in the Minnesota House and a former speaker, was first elected in 2004. A lawyer by training, she is married with two children.
Both lawmakers represent districts in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis.
House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) denounced the violence.
“Praying hard for the victims and all who have been affected.”
The Epoch Times has reached out to the Brooklyn Park Police Department for more information.
