A Minnesota state representative and her husband were shot and killed, while a state senator and his wife were seriously injured in two separate shootings at their homes in eastern Minnesota, officials announced Saturday. Authorities described the attacks as “politically motivated.”
The suspect, who remains at large, allegedly posed as a law enforcement officer—complete with a fake badge—to gain entry into the victims’ homes. A large-scale manhunt is currently underway.
At a press conference, Governor Tim Walz described the incident as a “politically motivated assassination.” He identified the victims as State Rep. Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park and her husband, Mark, who were killed, and State Sen. John Hoffman of Champlin and his wife, Yvette, who sustained critical injuries.
The Hoffmans remained hospitalized, though no immediate update was available on their conditions. Both legislators were members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, with their homes situated roughly eight miles apart in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis.
As part of the ongoing search for the suspect, the Brooklyn Park Police Department issued a shelter-in-place order Saturday morning for the area surrounding Edinburgh Golf Course, according to NBC affiliate KARE 11.
“This was an act of targeted political violence,” Governor Tim Walz said. “Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We do not resolve our disagreements through violence or at gunpoint.”
According to authorities, police were first called to Senator Hoffman’s home in Champlin around 2 a.m. in response to a reported shooting. A second emergency call came at approximately 3:35 a.m. from Representative Hortman’s residence. When Brooklyn Park officers arrived, they were met by an individual who opened fire on them. Officers returned fire, and the suspect fled through the back of the house, said Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
A senior law enforcement official told NBC News the suspect may have been wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt resembling a police uniform, along with a tactical vest.
Officials reported that the suspect’s vehicle, outfitted with lights and sirens to mimic a police cruiser, was recovered during the investigation. Inside, authorities discovered a manifesto containing the names of additional lawmakers and public officials. In response, law enforcement agencies across Minnesota were dispatched to the locations of those named to ensure their safety while the investigation into the document continues, according to a senior law enforcement official.
“We have people of interest that we are actively searching for,” authorities stated.
President Donald Trump said Saturday morning that he had been briefed on the shootings and confirmed that Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI are assisting with the investigation.
“Anyone involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Trump said in a statement. “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America.”
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., described the attacks as “a stunning act of violence” in a post on social media. “I’m thankful for all the law enforcement who are responding in real time,” she wrote on X. “My prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families. Both legislators are close friends and deeply committed to their families and to public service.”
Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, herself a survivor of a mass shooting and now a prominent gun safety advocate, expressed deep sorrow over the latest attack on elected officials.
“I am horrified and heartbroken by this violence,” Giffords said in a statement. “An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself. Leaders must speak out and denounce the dangerous rise in violent extremism that threatens the core values of this nation.”
The shootings occurred on the same day as a series of nationwide rallies under the banner “No Kings,” including events planned in Minnesota. A large parade was also scheduled in Washington, D.C., to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army—coinciding with former President Donald Trump’s birthday.
In light of the attacks, the “No Kings” rally in northeast Minnesota was canceled, and the Minnesota State Patrol urged residents to avoid public gatherings while the suspect remains at large.
“Given the targeted shootings of state lawmakers overnight, we are asking the public to refrain from attending today’s planned demonstrations across Minnesota out of an abundance of caution,” the agency said.
