Minnesota is reeling after a violent and brazen attack in which a suspect posing as a police officer shot and killed high-profile lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and seriously injured State Senator John Hoffman and his wife.
According to Minnesota Superintendent Drew Evans, police received their first distress call at around 2:00 a.m. local time regarding an incident at the Champlin home of Senator Hoffman, 60, a Democrat. A second call came in at 3:35 a.m. as officers proactively checked on Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman’s residence.
Authorities say the suspect, dressed in a fake police uniform and driving a vehicle outfitted to look like a police cruiser, manipulated his way into the lawmakers’ homes. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley confirmed that the attacker used a badge and emergency lights to gain access.
The suspect opened fire on both families, killing Hortman, a respected attorney and former House Speaker who served from 2019 to 2025, and her husband, Mark. Senator Hoffman and his wife were shot multiple times but survived emergency surgery. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he is “cautiously optimistic” about their recovery.
Police encountered the gunman at Hortman’s home and exchanged gunfire. However, the suspect escaped on foot, abandoning his fake police vehicle, which has since been recovered. A massive manhunt is underway, involving the FBI, SWAT, and hundreds of law enforcement officers.
As a precaution, authorities have issued a shelter-in-place order within a three-mile radius of Edinburgh Golf Course and urged residents not to open their doors to anyone claiming to be a police officer unless two uniformed officers are present.
Champlin Police noted that while the suspect remains at large, there is currently no indication of an ongoing threat to the general public.
Bob Jacobson, Minnesota’s Commissioner of Public Safety, condemned the attack, calling it a “violent and cowardly” targeting of public servants. He expressed outrage that the suspect exploited the public’s trust in police uniforms, describing the act as “deeply disturbing.”
Governor Walz declared Saturday “a dark day” for Minnesota and activated the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the response. He paid tribute to Hortman, calling her “a formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota,” who championed women’s rights, clean energy, free school meals, and police reform.
Hortman, who was instrumental in Minnesota’s ban on police chokeholds after the killing of George Floyd, leaves behind two children.
Security measures have been heightened for elected officials statewide as the search for the gunman continues.