Rep. Melissa Hortman, Husband Shot & Killed, Manhunt Underway

Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were shot and killed by a gunman on Saturday (June 14) in what is being framed as a politically motivated attack. Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were targeted and shot by the same suspect, but are expected to survive their injuries after completing surgery.

As reported by local outlet Bring Me The News,  Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were gunned down at their Brooklyn Park home around 3:35 AM local time, according to the still-developing accounts from local authorities. Earlier in the evening, the suspect, reportedly dressed as a police officer, went to the Champlain Park home of Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman, where he and his wife, Yvette, were shot and injured.

The suspect fled the Hortman home out of the back door on foot, and the region is on lockdown as police attempt to locate the suspect. The suspect is described as a white male with brown hair wearing body armor, a police officer’s uniform, complete with badge and Taser device, along with driving a vehicle fashioned like one used by officers.

After carrying out tte crime, officers arrived at the Hortmans’ home where the suspect reportedly opened fire on the arriving officers and fled out the back of the home. Authorities have enacted a shelter-in-place as police search for the gunman.

In the suspect’s SUV, a manifesto was reportedly found featuring the names of other lawmakers and state officials. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz held an emotional press conference Saturday morning, calling the deaths of the Hortmans a “politically motivated assassination.”

President Donald Trump, via a statement shared by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, which read, “I have been briefed on the terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears to be a targeted attack against State Lawmakers. Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America.”

On X, formerly Twitter, the reaction to the news of the shooting deaths of Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, is spreading. We’ve captured a few of those comments below.

UPDATE: CNN reports that police are looking for Vance Boelter, 57, who worked at an area security firm. The outlet adds that Boelter had a list of over 70 names of other politicians and places where abortions take place.

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Photo: Getty

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