A representative of the State of Minnesota and her husband were shot dead, and a state senator and his wife were shot and wounded in an “act of directed political violence” in their homes early Saturday morning, said the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz.
A human hunt is now underway for the gunman who was going through a police officer, authorities said.
The representative of the State of Minnesota, Melissa Hortman and the senator of the state of Minnesota, John Hoffman, are shown in these photos of files without date.
Chamber of Representatives of Minnesota | Minnesota Senate
The state representative Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband were shot dead in what seems to be a “politically motivated murder,” Walz said at a press conference.
Hortman, previously the president of the Chamber of Representatives of Minnesota, “was a formidable public servant,” said the governor about his friend. “She is irreplaceable.”
State Senator John Hoffman, Democrat, and his wife were shot several times and underwent surgery, said the governor.
“We are cautiously optimistic that they will survive this murder attempt,” Walz said.
The governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, speaks at a press conference on the shooting of two state legislators, on June 14, 2025.
Minnesota Public Security Department
The two shooting places are a few miles away in Champlin and Brooklyn Park, just north of Minneapolis.
Hoffman and his wife were shot around 2 in the morning in Champlin, said the Superintendent of the Office of Criminal Avenuals Drew Evans.
After Hoffman was shot, the officers headed to proactively verify Hortman when they met the suspect in Hortman’s house around 3:35 am, Evans said.
The officers communicate in a staging area after what the police said it was an objective shooting in the area around the Edinburgh golf course in the Minneapolis suburb in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on June 14, 2025.
Ellen Schmidt/Reuters
The officers found a person dressed as a police officer, with a vest and a badge, and with a taser and other teams, at the door, leaving Hortman’s house, police said.
The suspect shot the officers; Shots were exchanged and the suspect could escape and flee on foot, authorities said.
The suspect’s vehicle, which looked like a police vehicle, including police lights, was in the entrance road of Hortman, authorities said.
The neighborhood canvas officers after what the police said it was an objective shooting in the area around the Edinburgh golf course in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on June 14, 2025.
Ellen Schmidt/Reuters
A list of other possible objectives of the suspect vehicle was recovered, authorities said. The list called Hortman and Hoffman, police said.
The list included dozens of other Minnesota Democrats, including Governor Walz, representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Tina Smith and Attorney General Keith Ellison, according to sources of application of the law familiar with the matter.
The officials responsible for enforcing the law are investigating whether the suspect may have been motivated by extreme opinions about abortion, the sources said.
Security resources have been sent to protect the people named on the list, authorities said. Capitol Police said he is “working with our federal, state and local partners.”
The neighborhood canvas officers after what the police said it was an objective shooting in the area around the Edinburgh golf course in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on June 14, 2025.
Ellen Schmidt/Reuters
President Donald Trump has been informed about the shooting and said that “such horrible violence will not be tolerated,” published the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt on social networks.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said he is closely monitoring the situation.
“This horrible violence will not be tolerated and will be processed to the maximum extension of the law,” he said in a statement.
The president of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, also condemned the violence and said that “each leader must condemn it unequivocally.”
The president of the National Democratic Committee, Ken Martin, formerly president of the Minnesota Democratic Party, said he is a friend of Hoffman and Hortman.
“The Hortman speaker was a leader in every way of the word, from the beginning of free lunch for our children, to protecting women’s rights and reproductive care, until defending the families of Minnesota,” Martin said in a statement. “Melissa was also a friend close to whom she knew since the beginning of her political career. He was someone who personally trusted to obtain advice, advice and friendships and I am beyond the words. As I said many times, when I presented her at the events, she is the best speaker of the house that Minnesota has had.”
“This meaningless violence must end. These atrocious murders are a reflection of extremism and political violence that has been encouraged in our country,” Martin said. “Today, we commit ourselves to fight harder for the values that Melissa and Mark embodied: build a friendlier, more fair and loving world. If this murderer believes we will be silenced, he is wrong.”
A Brooklyn Park police officer talks to the driver of a vehicle that enters a neighborhood on June 14, 2025, in Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
With the ongoing human hunt, the Police urges community members to be cautious. Brooklyn Park is under a shelter in order, authorities said.
The police warned, if an officer arrives at his door, call 911 to confirm that the officer is supposed to be there.
“The police are asking that no one open their door to a lone police officer,” said the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office. “License officers are working in pairs.”
Walz warned: “By great precaution”, Minnesotanes should not attend any political manifestation in the state until the suspect is caught.
This is a development story. Consult the updates again.
Luke Barr, Mike Levine and Katherine Faulders of ABC News contributed to this report.
