A tragic incident unfolded in Minnesota when a gunman, impersonating a law enforcement officer, targeted two Democratic state lawmakers in separate attacks. Former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed in the shooting, while State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot and wounded. According to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the attacks were politically motivated, highlighting the growing concern over violence and intimidation towards public officials.
The suspect, who was dressed as a law enforcement officer, exploited the trust associated with the uniform to gain access to the victims. Authorities believe the shooter first targeted Hoffman and his wife, and then Hortman and her husband about 90 minutes later. During the exchange of gunfire with officers near Hortman’s residence, the suspect managed to escape. A massive manhunt is currently underway to apprehend the individual.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with Governor Walz emphasizing the importance of peaceful discourse and the need to reject violence as a means of settling differences. Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith also released statements strongly condemning the shootings, with Klobuchar describing the attack as “targeted political violence” against democracy itself. Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a shooting in 2011, expressed her devastation over Hortman’s death and stressed the need to protect democracy from those who seek to destroy it through violence.
