US News
breaking
Katherine Donlevy
Published June 14, 2025
Updated June 14, 2025, 11:40 a.m. ET
Gov. Tim Walz confirms killing of Minnesota Democrat and husband in 'politically motivated assassination'
A Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband were killed, and another politician and his wife were seriously injured early Saturday in a “politically motivated attack” when a madman posing as a police officer turned up at their homes and opened fire, authorities said.
Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were gunned down in their Brooklyn Park home shortly after 2 a.m.
The pair were killed after the gunman targeted Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in their Champlin home roughly 5 miles away.
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Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were gunned down in their Brooklyn Park home shortly after 2 a.m.Melissa Hortman/Facebook
The Hortmans were killed.
The Hoffmans were rushed into surgery and are in stable condition, officials said at a news conference.
Gov. Tim Walz called the shootings “an unspeakable tragedy,” and said the incident “appears to be a politically motivated assassination.”
The suspect is still on the run, despite making contact with police in the aftermath of the Hortman double homicide, according to Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley.
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The pair was killed after the gunman targeted Sen. John Hoffman (right) and his wife, Yvette (left), in their Champlin home roughly 5 miles away.John Hoffman/Facebook
Officers dispatched to Hortman’s home as other units investigated the Hoffman shooting discovered a car outfitted with flashing lights to look like an SUV squad car.
“When they arrived at Melissa’s house, they noticed that there was a police vehicle in the driveway with the emergency lights on and what appeared to be a police officer at the door coming out of the house,” Bruley said, adding that the suspect was wearing a vest, a badge and other equipment, such as a Taser, “very similar to mine.”
“When our officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers, who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home,” he continued.
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Minnesota Rep Melissa Hortman and husband Mark Hortman pictured in 2024.Mark Hortman/Facebook
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Gov. Tim Walz called the shootings “an unspeakable tragedy,” and said the incident “appears to be a politically motivated assassination.” Minnesota Department of Public Safety
“It was not a real police officer. This is someone that clearly had been impersonating a police officer who uses the trust of this badge and this uniform to manipulate their way into the home.”
Gunfire was exchanged, but the suspect escaped on foot.
Mark Hortman was alive when Brooklyn Park cops entered the home, but he died as they attempted to deliver life-saving measures.
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Mark Hortman died as cops attempted to deliver life-saving measures. Melissa Hortman was pronounced dead at the scene.Melissa Hortman/Facebook
Melissa Hortman was declared dead at the scene.
As the mayhem unfolded, first responders rushed the Hoffmans to a nearby hospital.
The couple had each been pumped with multiple bullets, but survived the attack.
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Senator John Hoffman (pictured) and his wife were rushed to the hospital to treat their injuries.Minnesota Senate DFL Caucus
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Minnesota Democratic lawmakers Rep Melissa Hortman (right) and Sen John Hoffman (left) pictured in 2018
MelissaHortman/Facebook
A manhunt is on for the suspect, who was wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants.
Cops ordered a shelter-in-place for the three-mile radius surrounding the Edinburgh Golf Course near Melissa Hortman’s home.
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A shelter-in-place alert was sent out at 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning, by the Brooklyn Park Police Department, after multiple shootings.AP
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Officers dispatched to Hortman’s home as other units investigated the Hoffman shooting discovered a car outfitted with flashing lights to look like an SUV squad car.AP
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Law enforcement officers, including local police, sheriffs, and the FBI, stage less than a mile from a shooting in Brooklyn Park, Minn., on Saturday, June 14.AP
“Police are looking for a suspect in multiple targeted shootings who is armed and dangerous,” Brooklyn Park Police said in an emergency alert sent to residents at 5:30 a.m.
“Suspect is white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
breaking
Minnesota Democrat and husband killed, another pol and his wife injured after madman posing as cop shoots them in ‘politically motivated attack’
ByKatherine Donlevy
Published June 14, 2025
Updated June 14, 2025, 11:40 a.m. ET
Gov. Tim Walz confirms killing of Minnesota Democrat and husband in 'politically motivated assassination'
A Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband were killed, and another politician and his wife were seriously injured early Saturday in a “politically motivated attack” when a madman posing as a police officer turned up at their homes and opened fire, authorities said.
Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were gunned down in their Brooklyn Park home shortly after 2 a.m.
The pair were killed after the gunman targeted Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in their Champlin home roughly 5 miles away.
10Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were gunned down in their Brooklyn Park home shortly after 2 a.m.Melissa Hortman/Facebook
The Hortmans were killed.
The Hoffmans were rushed into surgery and are in stable condition, officials said at a news conference.
Gov. Tim Walz called the shootings “an unspeakable tragedy,” and said the incident “appears to be a politically motivated assassination.”
The suspect is still on the run, despite making contact with police in the aftermath of the Hortman double homicide, according to Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley.
10The pair was killed after the gunman targeted Sen. John Hoffman (right) and his wife, Yvette (left), in their Champlin home roughly 5 miles away.John Hoffman/Facebook
Officers dispatched to Hortman’s home as other units investigated the Hoffman shooting discovered a car outfitted with flashing lights to look like an SUV squad car.
“When they arrived at Melissa’s house, they noticed that there was a police vehicle in the driveway with the emergency lights on and what appeared to be a police officer at the door coming out of the house,” Bruley said, adding that the suspect was wearing a vest, a badge and other equipment, such as a Taser, “very similar to mine.”
“When our officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers, who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home,” he continued.
10Minnesota Rep Melissa Hortman and husband Mark Hortman pictured in 2024.Mark Hortman/Facebook
10Gov. Tim Walz called the shootings “an unspeakable tragedy,” and said the incident “appears to be a politically motivated assassination.” Minnesota Department of Public Safety
“It was not a real police officer. This is someone that clearly had been impersonating a police officer who uses the trust of this badge and this uniform to manipulate their way into the home.”
Gunfire was exchanged, but the suspect escaped on foot.
Mark Hortman was alive when Brooklyn Park cops entered the home, but he died as they attempted to deliver life-saving measures.
10Mark Hortman died as cops attempted to deliver life-saving measures. Melissa Hortman was pronounced dead at the scene.Melissa Hortman/Facebook
Melissa Hortman was declared dead at the scene.
As the mayhem unfolded, first responders rushed the Hoffmans to a nearby hospital.
The couple had each been pumped with multiple bullets, but survived the attack.
10Senator John Hoffman (pictured) and his wife were rushed to the hospital to treat their injuries.Minnesota Senate DFL Caucus
10Minnesota Democratic lawmakers Rep Melissa Hortman (right) and Sen John Hoffman (left) pictured in 2018
MelissaHortman/Facebook
A manhunt is on for the suspect, who was wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants.
Cops ordered a shelter-in-place for the three-mile radius surrounding the Edinburgh Golf Course near Melissa Hortman’s home.
10A shelter-in-place alert was sent out at 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning, by the Brooklyn Park Police Department, after multiple shootings.AP
10Officers dispatched to Hortman’s home as other units investigated the Hoffman shooting discovered a car outfitted with flashing lights to look like an SUV squad car.AP
10Law enforcement officers, including local police, sheriffs, and the FBI, stage less than a mile from a shooting in Brooklyn Park, Minn., on Saturday, June 14.AP
“Police are looking for a suspect in multiple targeted shootings who is armed and dangerous,” Brooklyn Park Police said in an emergency alert sent to residents at 5:30 a.m.
“Suspect is white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
