Minnesota state lawmaker and husband killed by gunman dressed as police officer

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Minnesota state consultant Melissa Hortman and her husband have been shot lifeless on Saturday morning in what state governor Tim Walz described as a “politically motivated assassination”.

Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband have been shot at their dwelling in Brooklyn Park, a metropolis north of Minneapolis, by a person dressed as a police officer, authorities stated. Police are nonetheless looking for the suspect, who escaped following a shootout with officers.

“My good good friend and colleague Melissa and her husband Mark have been shot and killed this morning in what seems to be a politically motivated assassination,” stated Tim Walz, the state’s governor. He described Hortman as “a formidable public servant, a fixture and an enormous in Minnesota”.

Democrat state senator John Hoffman and his spouse have been additionally shot in an incident at their dwelling earlier on Saturday morning. Waltz stated they have been recovering in hospital.

“We’re cautiously optimistic they may survive this assassination try,” Walz stated, describing it as “an act of political violence”.

Bob Jacobson, commissioner of public security for Minnesota, stated the gunman had been dressed as a police officer, including: “The suspect exploited the belief of our uniforms.”

Jacobson stated elevated safety was in place for public officers and others that could be in danger.

Regulation enforcement officers confirmed the gunman was not a police officer, however was driving a car that seemed to be a squad automotive.

US President Donald Trump stated in a press release that he had been briefed “on the horrible taking pictures that befell in Minnesota, which seems to be a focused assault in opposition to State Lawmakers.”

“Our Lawyer Basic, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the state of affairs, and they are going to be prosecuting anybody concerned to the fullest extent of the regulation,” he stated in remarks revealed on social media platform X by White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

“Such horrific violence won’t be tolerated in the US of America. God Bless the nice individuals of Minnesota, a really excellent place!”