A representative of the State of Minnesota and her husband were shot dead, and a state senator and his wife were shot and wounded in an “act of directed political violence” in their homes early Saturday morning, said the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz.
A human hunt is now underway for the gunman who was going through a police officer, authorities said. The gunman attacked calling the doors and asking the victims to come out, police said.
The representative of the State of Minnesota, Melissa Hortman and the senator of the state of Minnesota, John Hoffman, are shown in these photos of files without date.
Chamber of Representatives of Minnesota | Minnesota Senate
The state representative Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband were shot dead in what seems to be a “politically motivated murder,” Walz said at a press conference.
“She was a formidable public servant,” the governor said about her friend. “She is irreplaceable.”
State Senator John Hoffman, Democrat, and his wife were shot several times and underwent surgery, said the governor.
“We are cautiously optimistic that they will survive this murder attempt,” Walz said.
The governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, speaks at a press conference on the shooting of two state legislators, on June 14, 2025.
Minnesota Public Security Department
The two shooting places are a few miles away in Champlin and Brooklyn Park, just north of Minneapolis.
Hoffman and his wife were shot around 2 in the morning in Champlin, said the Superintendent of the Office of Criminal Avenuals Drew Evans.
After Hoffman was shot, the officers headed to proactively verify Hortman when they met the suspect in Hortman’s house around 3:35 am, Evans said.
The agents of the law, including the Local Police, the Sheriffs and the FBI, stage less than one mile of a shooting in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on June 14, 2025.
Alex Kormann/Star Tribune through AP
The officers found a person dressed as a police officer, with a vest and a badge, and with a taser and other teams, at the door, leaving Hortman’s house, police said.
The suspect shot the officers; Shots were exchanged and the suspect could escape and flee on foot, authorities said.
The suspect’s vehicle, which looked like a police vehicle, including police lights, was in the entrance road of Hortman, authorities said.
The agents of the law, including the Local Police, the Sheriffs and the FBI, stage less than one mile of a shooting in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on June 14, 2025.
Alex Kormann/Star Tribune through AP
A list of other possible objectives of the suspect vehicle was recovered, authorities said. Police said the list had “many legislators,” including victims.
Security resources have been sent to protect the people named on the list, authorities said.
Two legislators of the State of Minnesota were triggered in apparent “directed” incidents, authorities said.
KSTP
The gunman said something to the victims, police said, but the authorities did not reveal what it was.
The deputy director of the FBI, Dan Bongino, said that the agency is “totally committed in Minnesota and is working in collaboration with our local and state partners.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi said he is “closely monitoring the developments in Minnesota after what seems to be an objective attack against state legislators.”
“This horrible violence will not be tolerated and will be processed to the maximum extension of the law,” he said in a statement.
Two legislators of the State of Minnesota were triggered in apparent “directed” incidents, authorities said.
KSTP
Hortman was the former president of the Chamber of Representatives of Minnesota.
The president of the National Democratic Committee, Ken Martin, formerly president of the Minnesota Democratic Party, said he is a friend of Hoffman and Hortman.
Martin wrote on social networks that he is “completely disconsolate” and “praying hard for both families.”
With the ongoing human hunt, the Police urges community members to be cautious. The police warned, if an officer arrives at his door, call 911 to confirm that the officer is supposed to be there.
This is a development story. Consult the updates again.
