DFL leader Melissa Hortman shot and killed in targeted shooting

BLAINE Minn AP Minnesota Gov Tim Walz says former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in a politically motivated assassination and a second lawmaker and his wife were shot and wounded Agents were actively searching for a suspect hours after the targeted killings We must all in Minnesota and across the country stand against all forms of political violence Walz commented at a press conference Saturday Those responsible for this will be held accountable The wounded lawmaker was identified as state Sen John Hoffman a Democrat was first elected in He previously served as vice chair of the Anoka Hennepin School Board which manages the largest school district in Minnesota Hoffman is married and has one daughter and represents a district north of Minneapolis Hortman was the top House Democratic leader in the state Legislature and a former House speaker She was first elected in She and her husband had two children Drew Evans superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension commented that administration were actively searching for a suspect Autopsies will be done to determine extent of injuries but Hortman and her spouse died from gunshot wounds Evans disclosed A shelter in place order was in effect early Saturday Residents Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson explained the suspect was posing as a law enforcement officer Suspect exploited the trust of our uniforms what our uniforms are meant to represent That betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility he mentioned Police Chief Mark Bruley reported the suspect fled out of the back of Hortman s house after an exchange of gunfire with police The suspect was dressed like a uniformed officer and operating a wagon that looked exactly like an SUV squad car It was equipped with lights emergency lights and looked exactly like a police bicycle Bruley disclosed President Donald Trump explained in a White House report that the FBI would join in the assessment Our Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI are researching the situation and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America God Bless the great people of Minnesota a truly great place Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth a Republican from Cold Spring called the attack evil and noted she was heartbroken beyond words by the killings of Hortman and her husband Mark With the law enforcement response ongoing and details still emerging I will entirely ask all Minnesotans to please lift up in prayer the casualties of this horrific attack as well as the law enforcement personnel still working to apprehend the perpetrator Demuth announced in a message The shootings happened at a time when political leaders nationwide have been attacked harassed and intimidated during a time of deep political divisions GIFFORDS the national gun violence prevention organization led by former U S Rep Gabrielle Giffords disclosed the following declaration My family and I know the horror of a targeted shooting all too well Giffords disclosed An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself Leaders must speak out and condemn the fomenting violent extremism that threatens everything this country stands for Giffords was shot in the head in by a gunman who killed six people and injured others She stepped down from Congress in January to focus on her recovery The post DFL leader Melissa Hortman shot and killed in targeted shooting appeared first on MinnPost