Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz: former House speaker and husband killed in politically motivated shooting

BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in a politically motivated assassination. A second lawmaker and his wife were shot and wounded.

“We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence,” Walz said at a press conference Saturday. “Those responsible for this will be held accountable.”

The wounded lawmaker was identified as state Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, was first elected in 2012. He runs Hoffman Strategic Advisors, a consulting firm. He previously served as vice chair of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, which manages the largest school district in Minnesota.

Hoffman is married and has one daughter. Hortman was the top House Democratic leader in the state Legislature and a former House speaker. She was first elected in 2004.

Both Hoffman and Hortman represented districts located north of Minneapolis.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said that authorities were actively searching for a suspect. Officials said the suspect was dressed as a law enforcement officer.

Autopsies will be done to determine extent of injuries, but Hortman and her spouse died from gunshot wounds, Evans said.

Public Safety Commissioner Bob Johnson said the suspect was posing as a law enforcement officer.

“Suspect exploited the trust of our uniforms, what our uniforms are meant to represent. That betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility,” he said.

Reactions are pouring in following the shootings. Minnesota Democrat-Farmer-Labor Chair Richard Carlbom released the following statement:

“Melissa Hortman represented the best of Minnesota. She was a tireless, devoted public servant who deeply loved our state and devoted her life to making it a better place. The warmth and kindness she showed to her family and friends were matched only by her fierce commitment to improving the lives of those she had never even met.

“Last night, we lost her and her husband Mark to a horrifying and evil act of political violence. We are heartbroken. This loss will be felt across Minnesota, but especially by those who were lucky enough to count her as family, friends, and colleagues. Please hold her and Mark’s loved ones close today.

“Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette survived the attack on their lives. Please keep them and their loved ones in your thoughts. I am grateful they are alive and we wish them a speedy recovery.

“This evil act of violence is also an attack on our democracy itself. We must all recommit to a politics grounded in dignity and decency.”

United States President Donald Trump, himself the subject of an assassination attempt, called the violence terrible. He pledged the resources of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice, saying the shootings will not be tolerated. Trump ended his message by writing, “God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place.”

No one had more worked more often with Hortman than Speaker Lisa Demuth, Republican from Cold Spring. The two negotiated a power-sharing agreement in the lower chamber, which was evenly split along partisan lines.

Demuth expressed shock at Saturday morning’s events. ““I am horrified by the evil attack that took place overnight, and heartbroken beyond words by the loss of Speaker-Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. 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.”