Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were critically wounded, after politically motivated shootings early Saturday that left a shaken state and nation calling for justice. Gov. Tim Walz and law enforcement confirmed the tragic events as part of a coordinated attack, with investigators launching the largest manhunt in Minnesota history to track the suspected gunman.
The shootings occurred at two separate homes five miles apart, one in Brooklyn Park and one in Champlin. Rep. Hortman, 55, and her husband Mark, 58, were shot dead in their Brooklyn Park home. A short time earlier, Sen. Hoffman, 60, and his wife Yvette were shot in their home in Champlin. Authorities believe the suspect — who disguised himself as a police officer — orchestrated these horrific crimes as part of a larger plan targeting lawmakers and public figures.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that Rep. Hortman and her husband each suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Rep. Hortman was pronounced dead at the scene. Mark was rushed to North Memorial Health in Robbinsdale, where he later died. At a press conference, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Superintendent Drew Evans said Sen. Hoffman survived his injuries but was in serious condition after surgery. Details about Yvette’s injuries remained unclear, though officials said she was stable.
Gov. Walz did not mince words when addressing the public. Calling the killings a “political assassination,” he immediately ordered flags to fly at half-staff in the couple’s honor. “Today Minnesota lost a great leader,” Walz said. “I lost a friend. Melissa Hortman woke up every day determined to make our state a better place. She served Minnesota with grace, compassion, and tirelessness.” Walz also condemned political violence in no uncertain terms. “We must stand united against all forms of violence. Minnesota is stronger when we can disagree peacefully,” he added.
Sen. Hoffman and his wife gave an emotional account Thursday of what happened that terrifying morning. They had returned home from a dinner hosted by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party the night before and were asleep by 2 a.m. when someone began pounding on their front door, claiming to be a police officer. According to a statement the Hoffmans released to CNN, they and their adult daughter Hope went to the door together. When John Hoffman reached to open it, the gunman — wearing a silicone mask — immediately raised a gun.
Sen. Hoffman lunged at the assailant to protect his family and was shot nine times. “As John fell,” the statement said, “Yvette reached out to push the man and shut the door.” The gunman shot her eight times before their daughter Hope rushed to slam the door and call 911, alerting public safety officials that an attack was underway.
The attack left John Hoffman critically wounded and Yvette with serious injuries. “John is in critical but stable condition; Yvette is stable as well,” their family noted, expressing their gratitude toward law enforcement and first responders who came to their aid. Minnesota Gov. Walz told reporters Thursday that he hoped to see Yvette released soon, though hospital staff had not confirmed that. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota’s senior U.S. Senator, said she received a text message from Yvette who told her they were “incredibly lucky to be alive,” adding that John had already endured multiple surgeries and was slowly recovering.
Investigators have identified the suspect as Vance Luther Boelter, 57, a white man last seen in Minneapolis wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, dark coat, and light pants. Surveillance footage and a recovered SUV outfitted to look like a police car — including a fake license plate that read “police” — led investigators to believe Boelter had switched clothing after the shootings. Inside that SUV, officers found an “extensive list of potential targets,” Evans said, with more than 50 names, including elected officials, abortion rights advocates, and reproductive health clinics. Fliers for an anti-government group calling itself the “No Kings” movement were also discovered inside. That group had been organizing protests at the Minnesota State Capitol over the weekend, but in light of the killings, officials and the organizers agreed to cancel all demonstrations for public safety.
Evans described a tense search that unfolded across Minnesota after the shootings. Police had responded to the first scene at Hoffman’s home around 2 a.m., then received a call about shots fired at Hortman’s house about an hour later. A Brooklyn Park police sergeant decided to proactively check on lawmakers in their area and, upon arrival at the Hortman residence around 3:35 a.m., found what appeared to be a police SUV with its emergency lights flashing. Officers then encountered Boelter, who was dressed as an officer at the time. The BCA superintendent said Boelter — then clad in a blue shirt and tactical vest — fired at police and escaped on foot.
The search for Boelter lasted 43 hours and involved local police, sheriff’s offices, state agents, ATF agents, U.S. Marshals, and FBI agents. Officials went door to door in Champlin, Brooklyn Park, and surrounding towns. Officers set up a three-mile shelter-in-place order around Edinburgh Golf Course before cancelling it once they determined Boelter had left the immediate area. Investigators also notified the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), fearing the suspect might attempt to leave the region by air.
Ultimately, Boelter was apprehended without further incident. Police charged him with six federal counts and four state counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, impersonating a police officer, and other charges. The FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his capture.
Public officials across Minnesota and beyond responded with condemnation and grief. Former Rep. Gabby Giffords of Arizona, herself a survivor of a 2011 assassination attempt that left six dead and a dozen wounded, released a heartfelt message. “My family and I know the horror of a targeted shooting all too well,” she said. “An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself. Leaders must speak out and condemn this violent extremism.” President Donald Trump also released a statement saying he had been briefed on the tragedy and assured Minnesotans that federal investigators would hold everyone involved accountable. “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated,” Trump said. “God bless the great people of Minnesota.” Amy Klobuchar echoed this call, calling the attacks “an attack on everything we stand for as a democracy,” and vowed to honor Hortman’s legacy by protecting democratic institutions.
The killings have left Minnesota in mourning. “Melissa Hortman was a good friend,” Klobuchar said. “She was a true public servant to the core — dedicating her life to serving Minnesotans with integrity and compassion.” Hortman was remembered as a legislative leader who fought for women’s rights, clean energy investment, and school lunch programs for children. Hoffman’s colleagues in the Senate noted his commitment to bipartisan progress, especially on public health and education policy.
Gov. Walz also emphasized the need for civil discourse even when political divisions run deep. “We are not a country that settles our differences at gunpoint,” he said. “We will not let fear win. Let me be absolutely clear: we must work together to return to a level of civility that allows us all to live peacefully.” The governor called on Minnesotans to stay united and vigilant as law enforcement continues its work.
In the days since the attack, people across the state have rallied around the victims’ families. A GoFundMe account set up by Fernbrook Elementary School aims to help the Hoffmans “pick up the broken pieces of our lives,” according to the family’s statement. They thanked Minnesotans for the prayers and support they had received. The Hoffmans also grieved for Melissa and Mark Hortman, whom they considered part of their extended family. Their daughter Hope attended school with the Hortmans’ daughter Sophie, creating bonds that deepened their sorrow.
In their statement, the Hoffmans acknowledged that working in public office comes with some loss of privacy. “We realize public service means making sacrifices,” they said, “but we never thought one of those sacrifices would be facing an armed attacker who doesn’t like what you stand for.” They ended with a call for unity and civility. “As a society, as a nation, as a community, we must work together to return to a level of respect and decency that allows us all to live peacefully,” they wrote. “The future for our children depends on that.”
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