Minnesota legislative, Melissa Hortman killed, State senator John Hoffman injured in “targeted political violence”

A representative of the state of Minnesota and her husband were shot dead, and a senator from the state and his wife were slaughtered and injured in an “act of targeted political violence” at home early on Saturday, said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

A manhunt is now underway for the shooter who, according to the authorities, has put the identity of a police officer. The authorities said they identified Vance Luther Boelter, 57, as a suspect.

The representative of the State Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, And her husband, Mark, were shot dead in what seems to be a “politically motivated assassination”. Walz said at a press conference.

Hortman, formerly president of the Minnesota House of Representatives, “was a formidable civil servant,” said the governor about his friend. “She is irreplaceable.”

Senator of State John Hoffman, Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were both slaughtered several times and suffered surgery, said the governor.

“We are carefully optimistic that they will survive this assassination attempt,” said Walz.

The two shooting locations are a few kilometers from each other in Champlin and Brooklyn Park, just north of Minneapolis.

Hoffman and his wife were slaughtered at home in Champlin around 2 a.m., said Evans, a superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Prowension, Drew Evans. The authorities believe that when the shooter opened fire, he wore a latex mask that seemed realistic, sources said.

After Hoffman was shot dead, the police went to Hortman proactive when they met the suspect at Hortman’s house in Brooklyn Park around 3:35 a.m., Evans said.

The police found a person who was dressed as a police officer – wearing a vest and a badge, and with a taser and other equipment – at the door, leaving Hortman’s house, the police said.

The suspect shot the officers; Shops were exchanged and the suspect was able to escape and run away on foot, the authorities said.

The suspect’s vehicle – which looked like a police vehicle, including police lights – was in Hortman’s alley, the authorities announced.

A The list of other possible targets has been recovered from the suspect’s vehiclesaid the authorities. The list named Hortman and Hoffman and included dozens of other Minnesota Democrats, including Governor Walz, the American representative Ilhan Omar, the American senator Tina Smith and the Attorney General Keith Ellison, according to sources of application of the family with the issue.

The list of potential targets of the shooter also included the names of abortion suppliers and pro-Choix activists, several sources said in ABC News. Many Democratic legislators on the list have been frank on pro-Choix political positions, two sources said.

Security resources have been sent to protect people appointed to the list, authorities said.

President Donald Trump was informed of the shooting and said that “such horrible violence will not be tolerated,” published the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, published on social networks.

The Attorney General Pam Bondi said: “This horrible violence will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The president of the room, Mike Johnson, also condemned violence and said that “each chief must condemn him unequivocally”.

A source close to Walz told ABC News that Governor and Vice-President JD Vance spoke on Saturday.

The president of the National Democratic Committee, Ken Martin, former president of the Minnesota Democratic Party, said he was a friend with Hoffman and Hortman.

“President Hortman was a leader in every sense of the word – of the inauguration of free lunch for our children, to protect women’s rights and reproductive care, to defend families in Minnesota,” Martin said in a statement. “Melissa was also a close friend whom I have known from the very beginning of her political career. He was someone on whom I have personally counted for advice, advice and friendship and I am beyond the words. As I said on several occasions, when I presented her at events, she is the best president of the room that Minnesota has ever had.”

“This insane violence must end. These odious murders are a reflection of extremism and political violence that has been fomented in our country,” said Martin. “Today, we recommend that we fight harder for the values ​​that Melissa and Mark have embodied – to build a more kind, fairer and loving world. If this murderer thinks that we will be silenced, he is wrong.”

Melissa Hortman’s sister-in-law told ABC News: “We love them very much”, adding: “I hope they will catch it and they get justice for what happened. It is devastating.”

With the undergoing man hunting, the police urge members of the community to be careful. Police warned that if an officer comes to your door, call 911 to confirm that the officer is supposed to be there.

“Police ask that no one will open the door to a lonely police officer,” said the Sheriff’s office in Hennepin. “Authorized agents work in pairs.”

A refuge in place was lifted for Brooklyn Park. Local leaders said, even if the suspect remains in freedom, “there are reasons to believe that he is no longer in the region”.

It is a story in development. Please check the updates.

Luke Barr of ABC News, Mike Levine and Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.