Hundreds of law enforcement officers fanned out across a Minneapolis suburb on Saturday in pursuit of a man who authorities say posed as a police officer and fatally shot a Democratic state lawmaker in her home in what Gov. Tim Walz called "a politically motivated assassination." Authorities say the same suspect also shot and wounded a second lawmaker.
Former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their Brooklyn Park home. Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were injured at their Champlin address, about 15 kilometres away.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said authorities are looking for 57-year-old Vance Boelter in the shootings. Evans did not provide details on a possible motive.
The early-morning attacks targeting lawmakers in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis prompted warnings to other elected officials around the state and the cancellation of planned "No Kings" demonstrations against U.S. President Donald Trump.
Authorities say the suspect had "No Kings" flyers in his car and writings mentioning the names of the victims, as well as other lawmakers and officials, although they couldn't say if he had any other specific targets.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, centre, pauses as he speaks about the shootings during a news conference in Blaine, Minn., on Saturday. (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune/The Associated Press)The shootings happened at a time when political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated during a time of deep political divisions.
"We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence," Walz, a Democrat, said at a news conference. "Those responsible for this will be held accountable."
Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans' home shortly after 2 a.m., Champlin police said, and found the lawmaker and his wife with multiple gunshot wounds.
After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to check on Hortman's home, where they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer at the door, leaving the house.
"When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers, who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home" and escaped, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said.
Multiple bullet holes could be seen in the front door of Hoffman's home.
WATCH | Gunman posed as police officer, authorities say:Former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed by someone posing as a police officer on Saturday, and a second lawmaker and his wife were shot and wounded in what Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said were politically motivated shootings.Trump said in a White House statement that the FBI would join in the investigation.
"Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!"
'She is irreplaceable'Hortman, 55, had been the top Democratic leader in the state House of Representatives since 2017. She led House Democrats in a three-week walkout at the beginning of this year's session in a power struggle with Republicans. Under a power-sharing agreement, she turned the gavel over to the top Republican, Rep. Lisa Demuth, and assumed the title of speaker emerita.
Walz described her as a "formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota every day, determined to make this state a better place."
"She is irreplaceable," he said.
Hortman is shown addressing the Minnesota state House in St. Paul, Minn., when she was Speaker, in January 2023. (Abbie Parr/The Associated Press)Hortman and her husband had two adult children.
Hoffman, 60, was first elected in 2012 and played a key role as chair of the Senate human services committee, which oversees one of the biggest parts of the state budget.
State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic asked people "out of an abundance of caution" not to attend any of the "No Kings" protests that were scheduled for across the state on Saturday. Bogojevic said while authorities didn't have any direct evidence that the protests would be targeted, the suspect had some "No Kings" flyers in their car. Organizers announced that all of the protests across the state were cancelled.
'I'm hoping they'll catch them'Hours after the shootings, hundreds of police and sheriff deputies from departments in the region, some in tactical gear with assault-style weapons, were scattered through the town.
An alert sent to people's cellphones asked residents to continue sheltering in place as police were still looking for a suspect "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," the alert said.
Law enforcement officers are shown near the scene of a shooting in Brooklyn Park, Minn., where Hortman and her husband lived, on Saturday. (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune/The Associated Press)Some roadblocks had been set up, and authorities stopped and checked vehicles.
"This is crazy, someone going after representatives. This is wrong. I'm hoping they'll catch them," said Brooklyn Park resident Douglas Thompson, 62, adding he wasn't worried and believed authorities would catch the suspect.
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Spring, called the attack "evil" and said she was "heartbroken beyond words" by the killings of Hortman and her husband.
"With the law enforcement response ongoing and details still emerging, I will simply ask all Minnesotans to please lift up in prayer the victims of this horrific attack, as well as the law enforcement personnel still working to apprehend the perpetrator," Demuth said in a statement.