Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed early Saturday morning in “what appears to be a politically motivated assassination,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said at a news conference Saturday.
Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also targeted by the same individual and each shot multiple times, Walz said. They have undergone surgery and are alive.
“The Hoffmans are out of surgery at this time and receiving care, and we are cautiously optimally optimistic, they will survive this assassination attempt,” the governor said.
Both lawmakers are members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party.
According to reports, Vance Luther Boelter, is the alleged suspect and cosplayed a police officer. He wore a light-colored cowboy hat, a dark-skinned collared coat, light pants, and a dark bag. Boetler is 57 years old and, according to a law enforcement official, he works for a security company, Praetorian Guard Security. The company website says that Boelter serves as the director of security patrols and has had training by people in the US military.
A manhunt is underway.
The Minnesota State Patrol has released photos that were found inside the suspect’s fake police vehicle. Plus, there was a manifesto with lawmakers’ names listed on it.
Reaction pours in throughout Georgia
Georgia Senate Minority Leader, Harold V. Jones IV, and the Georgia Senate Democratic Caucus issued a statement as they reacted to the events in Minnesota. It reads in part:
The Georgia Senate Democratic Caucus is horrified and heartbroken by this morning’s attack on two patriotic public servants and their spouses. Their entire families are in our prayers today as we await more information. We hope law enforcement can quickly find those responsible and bring them to justice.
Political violence has no place in our democracy. Gun violence has no place in our country. As we enter this weekend, we stand firm in our conviction that political violence has no place in American democracy. And we condemn any person who urges the use of force or violence to solve any political dispute.
Republican Caucus Chair Sen. Jason Anavitarte also released the following statement regarding the devastating events in Minnesota.
“We are deeply saddened and outraged by the heinous attack on two Minnesota lawmakers and their families. Former Speaker Melissa Hortman and Sen. John Hoffman, along with their spouses, were targeted at their homes by an individual posing as a law enforcement officer. Tragically, Speaker Hortman and her husband were killed.
Our prayers are with the families of these public servants and with the entire Minnesota community as they grapple with this senseless act of violence. We urge law enforcement to move swiftly in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
There is no place in America for political violence. In a constitutional republic, we settle our differences through debate, elections and the rule of law, not violence. Those who resort to the use of violence and force to advance political agendas are enemies of freedom and must be held accountable.”
Georgia State Representative Inga Willis condemned the actions of the alleged suspect, Vance Luther Boelter. She also highlights the dangerous normalization of political violence in American society.
“It is also an indicator of just how dangerous these times are that we’re living in, we have allowed as a society for the normalization of political violence as a method of communicating disagreement and discontent is reflective of how January 6 was handled as if it was so lightweight, but this is emboldening people who disagree with political stances for whatever reason, to take it out on people.”
Additional reporting by CNN.
