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A shocking series of politically motivated shootings early Saturday morning has left Minnesota in a state of emergency. One state lawmaker and her husband were killed, while another legislator and his wife were critically wounded in what authorities are calling “targeted political violence.”
According to officials, the deadly attacks were carried out by a suspect who posed as a police officer to gain access to the homes of Minnesota lawmakers. The first incident took place around 2 a.m., when police were called to the home of State Senator John Hoffman in Champlin. Both Hoffman and his wife were found with multiple gunshot wounds and rushed to surgery. They are expected to survive.
Roughly an hour later, officers were dispatched to the Brooklyn Park residence of State Rep. and former House Speaker Melissa Hortman. There, police encountered the suspect outside her home, dressed in a fake police uniform and standing next to a vehicle outfitted with flashing lights. The man opened fire on officers and then fled the scene. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were later confirmed dead.
Champlin Mayor Ryan Sabas called the violence “pure evil,” while Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans confirmed that both attacks are believed to have been committed by the same individual. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said the suspect had impersonated law enforcement to “manipulate his way into the home.”
A search of the suspect’s abandoned vehicle uncovered a disturbing manifesto and a hit list of political figures. Flyers connected to the extremist “No Kings” movement were also found, tying the attack to a wider anti-government campaign currently staging protests across the country.
Governor Tim Walz addressed the public with visible emotion, calling Hortman’s death a personal loss. “My good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman, and her husband were assassinated,” he said. “We believe this was a politically motivated act of domestic terror.”
A shelter-in-place alert was issued in Brooklyn Park as authorities continued their search for the armed and dangerous suspect, described as a white male wearing black body armor over blue clothing. He is considered extremely dangerous and may attempt to impersonate police officers.
Both President Trump and former President Biden condemned the attacks. Trump promised full federal prosecution for those responsible, while Biden urged Americans to “unite against political violence.”
State and federal agencies, including the FBI, are now involved in the manhunt. Governor Walz has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the response.
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