Two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses were shot by a man reportedly impersonating a police officer, according to multiple reports on Saturday.
Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) acknowledged the incident in a post on X, though he did not immediately provide specific details. According to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS’ Tom Hauser, citing sources, State Sen. John Hoffman was shot in Champlin, and State House Speaker Melissa Hortman was shot in Brooklyn Park.
FOX 9 reported that both were shot in their homes, along with their spouses. Hoffman and his spouse are expected to survive and are out of surgery, according to Fox News. Hortman and her spouse, however, have both died from their injuries, according to reports.
“I’ve activated the State Emergency Operations Center,” Walz wrote on X. “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.”
- “Our state lost a great leader,” Walz said at a press briefing Saturday morning. “Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a sense of service.”
