In some shocking news out of the deep blue state of Minnesota, two state legislators were attacked by a man who, allegedly, was impersonating a police officer when he shot them. Both of the shot state legislators are Democrats, and both were reportedly shot in their homes alongside their spouses.
According to the reports surrounding the incident that have emerged, the two legislators whom the officer-impersonating gunman shot are Minnesota state senator John Hoffman, shot in his home in Champlin, and Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman, shot in her home in Brooklyn Park. While it has since been announced that Rep. Hortman and her husband are confirmed dead, Sen. Hoffman’s condition is unclear.
Gov. Tim Walz quickly took to X to announce the news, saying, in an early morning post on Saturday, June 14, “I’ve been briefed this morning on an ongoing situation involving targeted shootings in Champlin and Brooklyn Park. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement are on the scene. We will share more information soon.”
He then added to that in a second post about how the state is reacting to the slayings, saying, “I’ve activated the State Emergency Operations Center. Local law enforcement in Champlin and Brooklyn Park have the full resources of the State of Minnesota behind them. We are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information soon.”
Adding a potential motive to one of the slayings is that State Rep. Hortman had voted to repeal a Minnesota law that would repeal MinnesotaCare for adult illegal immigrants. She was one of five Democrats who did so, and the bill still passed 68–65 in the House and 37–30 in the Senate. State Sen. Hoffman, however, did not vote for the bill.
In any case, ABC 5 KSTP, reporting on the incident, described the suspect reported by police, saying, “The suspect, according to the alert, is a white man with brown hair wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants. Authorities are asking residents not to approach the suspect if spotted.”
The Brookly Park Police report on that aspect of the case reportedly said, “Police are looking for a suspect in multiple targeted shootings who is armed and dangerous. Suspect is white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement.”
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Adding to KSTP’s reporting was its Chief Political Reporter, Tom Hauer, who posted on X about the slayings, saying, “BREAKING: Multiple sources tell 5 Eyewitness News at least two MN state lawmakers were shot at their homes last night by a gunman impersonating a police officer. DFL Speaker Emerita Melissa Hoffman in Brooklyn Park and DFL Sen. John Hoffman in Champlin. Working on more details.”
Also commenting on the matter was Trending Politics’ Collin Rugg, who posted on X about the slayings and noted that authorities are telling residents to stay in in their homes as the suspect is hunted for, writing, “A shelter-in-place alert was sent out at 5:30 am for a three-mile radius around the Edinburgh Golf Course in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.”