Two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses were shot by a man reportedly impersonating a police officer, according to multiple reports on Saturday.
Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) acknowledged the incident in a post on X, though he did not immediately provide specific details. According to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS’ Tom Hauser, citing sources, State Sen. John Hoffman was shot in Champlin, and State House Speaker Melissa Hortman was shot in Brooklyn Park.
Both lawmakers are Democrats.
FOX 9 reported that both were shot in their homes, along with their spouses. Hoffman and his spouse are expected to survive and are out of surgery, according to Fox News. Hortman and her spouse, however, have both died from their injuries, according to reports.
“I’ve activated the State Emergency Operations Center,” Walz wrote on X. “Local law enforcement in Champlin and Brooklyn Park have the full resources of the State of Minnesota behind them. We are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information soon.”
“Our state lost a great leader,” Walz said at a press briefing Saturday morning. “Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a sense of service.”
“The Hoffmans are out of surgery at this time and receiving care, and we are cautiously optimally optimistic, they will survive this assassination attempt,” he added.
“This was an act of targeted political violence,” Walz said. “Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don’t settle their differences with violence or at gunpoint in the state of Minnesota.”
Police have described the suspect as armed and dangerous and warned the public not to approach him. He is reportedly a white male with brown hair, wearing black body armor. Authorities have issued a shelter-in-place alert for residents in the area.
Reports said that he was indistinguishable from a regular police officer, wearing similar clothing and carrying similar equipment. He even drove a police-like SUV with lights, according to reports.
“The suspect exploited the trust our uniforms represent… This betrayal is deeply disturbing,” Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said, Fox News noted.
The suspect reportedly exchanged gunfire with responding police officers before fleeing, reports said, calling the shootings politically motivated “assassination” attempts.
The FBI is aiding the investigation. Authorities are looking for a male in black body armor and a blue shirt, who may have impersonated law enforcement, according to one law enforcement source speaking to CNN.
“This is a stunning act of violence. I’m thankful for all the law enforcement who are responding in real time,” U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said in her post. “My prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families. Both legislators are close friends and devoted to their families and public service.”