Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, 55, and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday morning. Authorities have described the incident as a targeted political attack, sending shockwaves through Minnesota’s political landscape.
Governor Tim Walz condemned the killings as an “act of targeted political violence,” and confirmed that State Senator John Hoffman, 60, and his wife were also targeted in a related attack at their home in nearby Champlin. Both were shot multiple times and have undergone surgery. Walz expressed cautious optimism about their recovery.
According to law enforcement, the suspect used a fake police badge and uniform to gain access to the homes. The individual was also driving a vehicle resembling a police cruiser, complete with emergency lights, further aiding the deception.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley stated that police exchanged gunfire with the suspect at the Hortman residence but he managed to flee. A manhunt is currently underway involving local law enforcement, the FBI, and SWAT teams. Authorities have seized the suspect’s vehicle and believe he is now on foot. A shelter-in-place order remains in effect within a three-mile radius of Edinburgh Golf Course.
Minnesota Superintendent Drew Evans revealed that officers were first alerted at 2:00 a.m. following the shooting at Senator Hoffman’s residence. By 3:35 a.m., they were conducting a proactive welfare check at the Hortman household, where they encountered the suspect.
Public safety officials have urged residents not to open their doors to individuals posing as solo police officers, underscoring the betrayal of public trust inherent in the attacks.
Governor Walz called Hortman “a formidable public servant” and a “giant in Minnesota.” Elected in 2004, she served as House Speaker from 2019 to 2025, championing progressive policies including women’s rights, climate initiatives, and police reform following the death of George Floyd.
Hortman is survived by two children. The violent loss of such a dedicated public leader and her husband has left the state in mourning, as authorities intensify efforts to bring the suspect to justice.
