In a shocking and politically charged series of events, two Democratic state lawmakers in Minnesota were reportedly shot in the early hours of Saturday, June 14, in what Governor Tim Walz described as an “act of targeted political violence.” The incident has sent ripples across the nation, drawing condemnation from political leaders and sparking a major manhunt.

House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, 55, and her husband, Mark, were tragically killed at their home in Brooklyn Park, near Minneapolis. Separately, State Senator John Hoffman, 60, and his wife, Yvette, were also targeted in their home in nearby Champlin. The Hoffmans sustained multiple injuries from gunshot wounds but are expected to recover, with Governor Walz expressing cautious optimism for their survival.

The prime suspect in these attacks has been identified as Vance Boelter, 57, who reportedly worked as the director of security patrol for Praetorian Guard Security. Authorities revealed that Boelter gained entry to the lawmakers' homes by impersonating a police officer, utilizing a police badge, uniform, and even a vehicle equipped with emergency lights, exploiting the public's trust in law enforcement.

The sequence of events began around 02:00 local time with the shooting of Senator Hoffman and his wife. Approximately 90 minutes later, at 03:35, police proactively checking on Melissa Hortman's residence engaged in a gunfight with the suspect, who managed to escape. An extensive manhunt is currently underway involving the FBI, SWAT teams, and hundreds of police officers. The suspect's vehicle has been recovered, and authorities believe he is now traveling on foot. A shelter-in-place order was issued for a three-mile radius around Edinburgh Golf Course in Brooklyn Park, and residents have been warned not to answer their doors for a single police officer.

The attacks occurred amidst a period of intense political division in the United States. Governor Walz emphasized the critical importance of peaceful discourse in a democracy, stating, “We don’t settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint.” The incident was swiftly condemned by top political figures. President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi decried the events as “horrific violence,” vowing full prosecution of the perpetrator. Former Vice President Al Gore and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also expressed their heartbreak and called for an end to politically motivated violence, referencing the attack on Pelosi’s husband in 2024.

Melissa Hortman, an attorney, served as House Speaker from 2019 to 2025 after being elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2004. She was a formidable public servant, known for her dedication to protecting women's rights, investing in clean energy, and securing free school lunch for children. Notably, she became a prominent advocate for policing reform after the killing of George Floyd in 2020, successfully helping to enact a state ban on police chokeholds. Governor Walz lamented the loss of a “great leader” and a “dearest friend,” describing Hortman as a “fixture and a giant in Minnesota” who was determined to make the state a better place. Bob Jacobson, the state's commissioner of public safety, characterized Saturday as a “dark day” for Minnesota but affirmed that fear and violence would not define the state’s path forward, noting increased security for elected officials.