{"id":153409,"date":"2025-06-14T21:26:56","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T21:26:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/minnesota-police-name-suspect-in-shootings-of-democratic-state-politicians-bbc\/"},"modified":"2025-06-14T21:26:56","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T21:26:56","slug":"minnesota-police-name-suspect-in-shootings-of-democratic-state-politicians-bbc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/minnesota-police-name-suspect-in-shootings-of-democratic-state-politicians-bbc\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota police name suspect in shootings of Democratic state politicians – BBC"},"content":{"rendered":"

US Politicians Targeted In Shootings
BBC News
This video can not be played
Democratic state politician Melissa Hortman and her husband have been killed in what appears to be a "politically motivated assassination," Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says<\/a>
Democratic state lawmaker John Hoffman and his wife were also shot, and Walz says he is "cautiously optimistic"<\/a> of their recovery
US President Donald Trump says the shootings appear to be a "targeted attack against state lawmakers,"<\/a> adding such "horrific violence will not be tolerated"
Police say they are looking for a suspect Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who is believed to have impersonated a police officer and escaped after engaging fire with officers
The shootings took place in Champlin and Brooklyn Park, two neighbouring cities near Minneapolis – a shelter-in-place order has been issued by Brooklyn Park police
Political violence has become an increasingly common occurrence in the US, writes our <\/i>North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher<\/i><\/a>
This video can not be played
Killing of Minnesota lawmaker was 'targeted' violence says governor
Edited by Caitlin Wilson
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison also says in a statement on X that he is "beyond heartbroken" at Hortman's deaths.
"Melissa and I were friends for over two decades. She was wise, she was caring, she was brilliant, and her smile lifted people up in good times and helped them through the bad," Ellison says.
"Melissa was a force in Minnesota politics who understood what it meant to be a public servant," he adds, saying his office will assist law enforcement in their investigation.
"I hope Minnesotans can offer grace, care, and kindness to each other in the days ahead," he says.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon describes it as the "darkest days for Minnesota, the Hortman and Hoffman families and for our democracy".
In a statement he pays tribute to his "good friend" Hortman, who he says was the "best of us" and one of the "most extraordinary public servants I've ever known".
"She and her husband Mark attended my wedding. I\u2019m just numb about their deaths. I pray for their children, parents, and family. Their assassination is not just a personal loss, but a loss to Minnesota," he adds.
Simon describes Ms Hortman as "smart, savvy, strategic, kind, funny, brave, and determined" and says he is praying for Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette – who he describes as friends.
"There\u2019s another victim of today\u2019s senseless shootings: Democracy itself. Political violence is unacceptable. To perpetrate it, encourage it, or pretend to ignore it will only poison our democracy," he adds.
Here's what we learned from that police update in Minnesota a few minutes ago:
Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies J. Winston is up next.
"This individual did this to instil fear in our community," he says. But he promises that the city will come together to get through this.
His city was the scene of the shooting of state Rep. Hortman and her husband.
Police are looking for a suspect called Vance Luther Boelter, a 57-year-old white male, who is six-foot-one, 220 pounds and has brown hair, they tell a news conference.
They have asked for the public's help in providing any information about Boelter, they say.
Minnesota lawmakers are giving an update on the manhunt under way following the shootings of two state lawmakers early Saturday.
We'll bring you any new information, so stick with us.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has identified a "credible threat toward state lawmakers planning to attend a protest later today" at the state Capitol in Austin, they said in a statement posted to social media.
The Capitol and surrounding area were evacuated "out of an abundance of caution", they added.
The statement did not say which protest the threatened lawmakers were planning to attend, though local media reports that an anti-Trump "No Kings" demonstration was planned to take place at the Texas Capitol today, along with dozens of other protests around the country.
The statement also did not name which lawmakers were threatened.
You can follow our coverage of the protests here, along with the Washington, DC military parade arranged by Trump.
Minnesota senator Tina Smith says she is "heartbroken" but the news of the attacks.
"This morning Minnesota woke up to news of a brutal act of violence targeting public servants," she says in a post on X, external<\/span><\/a>.
"I am heartbroken to learn that our Speaker Melissa Hortman, Sen John Hoffman and their spouses have been shot.
"I\u2019ve worked closely with these fine legislators for many years."
She says she is grateful for the "incredible response" of law enforcement and says she hopes everyone will stay safe.
More tributes have been coming in for Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.
Richard Carlbom, chair of Minnesota's state Democratic party – known as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party – which she represented, says she was a tireless and devoted public servant.
"The warmth and kindness she showed to her family and friends were matched only by her fierce commitment to improving the lives of those she had never even met," he says.
He adds her "loss will be felt across Minnesota, but especially by those who were lucky enough to count her as family, friends, and colleagues".
He calls for a recommitment to politics "grounded in dignity and decency".
\"\"<\/span><\/span>Nomia Iqbal<\/strong>
North America correspondent<\/span>
Melissa Hortman presides over the Minnesota state House of Representatives in 2020
I've just spoken to Melissa Hortman's political mentor Mindy Greiling, who says she is "absolutely devastated" by the loss of her friend this morning.
According to Greiling, who is herself a former Minnesota state representative, Hortman had a "strong personality. She knew what she was doing, she was a strong legislator even when she was a freshman."
"I've watched her grow and rise, so this is just terrible news," Greiling tells me as her voice breaks.
Greiling says the attack on Hortman and state Senator John Hoffman feels like just the next chapter in the US's increasingly divided politics.
"This is such a polarised situation that I have to think this is an attack… on Democrats," she says.
"That breaks my heart too, I'm a Democrat."
Governor Tim Walz has alleged that the shootings were targeted political attacks, though police have not commented on any potential motive.
Crossing the political aisle seemed easier when she was an elected official more than a decade ago, Greiling tells me, adding that easy access to guns in the United States means political disagreements can quickly turn violent.
"I think that is just the breakdown of all the other breakdowns that we have going on politically in our country, where we have to now face this and say 'We have a problem here' and 'What can we do?'"
Greiling says she believes her home state can become an example for the rest of the country on how to come together in the face of political divide. She says she herself will start by helping to arrange mental health support for other Minnesota politicians who have now lost a friend or colleague.
"I'm hoping this time, at least here in Minnesota, we will stop and try to make something better of this. I think if any state in the country can do it, it's ours, because we're a purple state."
"We need to put a stop to this," she says.
We've got a statement from Champlin Police which says that the two shootings are being linked but there is "no indication of an ongoing threat to the public".
The force says that it was called just after 02:00 early Saturday morning to reports of gunfire and on arrival officers found two people with multiple gunshot wounds and gave them first aid.
"This remains an active and ongoing investigation," Champlin Police Chief Glen Schneider says.
"We are working closely with state and local law enforcement partners to follow leads and pursue all necessary investigative steps."
The suspect or suspects remain at large but at this time authorities believe the incidents were targeted attacks against specific individuals, the statement says.
"The City of Champlin extends its thoughts and prayers to Senator John Hoffman, Representative Melissa Hortman, and their families during this difficult time," it adds.
US senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar says she is heartbroken by the loss of state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.
"Melissa was a good friend and we started in politics at the same time and were always there for each other," she writes.
"She was a true public servant to the core, dedicating her life to serving Minnesotans with integrity and compassion.
"Melissa\u2019s legacy will endure, but today we grieve deeply."
A law enforcement source has identified a person of interest in the Minnesota shooting to the BBC's US partner CBS.
According to CBS and other US media, investigators are looking for Vance Luther Boelter, a man in his 50s who is from Minnesota.
Police found a list of more than 50 possible targets in his vehicle, CBS reports, including officials in Minnesota and beyond, along with abortion rights activists. According to CBS, there were also fliers for the anti-Trump No Kings protests planned for cities across the country today.
A law enforcement source has told the BBC's US partner, CBS, that the US Marshals have joined in the manhunt for the Minnesota shooting suspect.
\"\"<\/span><\/span>Anthony Zurcher<\/strong>
North America correspondent<\/span>
Reaction from the Minnesota shooting of two state politicians continues to come in as the day progresses.
\u201cThis heinous attack motivated by politics should never happen in American,\u201d former US President Joe Biden said in a statement.
\u201cWe must give hate and extremism no safe harbour and we must all unite against political violence as a nation.\u201d
Protests against the Trump administration have been cancelled across Minnesota after the shootings of the two lawmakers, our US partner CBS reports.
In a statement, organisers of the No Kings demonstrations said the decision was made "out of an abundance of caution and in adherence to guidance from Governor Walz and the Minnesota State Patrol".
The protests were due to take place ahead of a military parade in Washington.
The organisers add that their "hearts" are with the victims and families and they remain committed to ensuring other events around the US "proceed peacefully and safely".
Earlier, Walz urged people not to attend political rallies. <\/a>
This comes after police said fliers for the No Kings events<\/a> were found in the alleged shooter's car and the suspect is believed to have impersonated a police officer in the attack. <\/a>
We have some more details from the BBC's US partner CBS, which says a list of names and a manifesto was found in the suspect's car.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley says: "When we did a search of the vehicle, there was a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials.
"We immediately made alerts to the state, who took action on alerting them and providing security where necessary."
Police also found fliers for the No Kings protests planned for later today, CBS reports, which is why people are being advised against attending.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro says he is "pained by the news of yet another act of political violence" in the US.
He says he and his wife, Lori Shapiro, are praying for the families of the victims as well as the full recovery of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Shapiro adds he has spoken with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
"This is unacceptable \u2014 we all have a responsibility to stand up and work to defeat the political violence that is tearing through our country. America is better than this," he says.
As our North America correspondent noted earlier,<\/a> Shapiro's official residence was subject to an alleged arson attack earlier this year.
Secretary of State for Homeland Security Kristi Noem
Secretary of State for Homeland Security Kristi Noem says her department is monitoring the situation after the shootings in Minnesota.
"I am praying for the victims of this heinous attack and their families," she says, external<\/span><\/a>.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has also reacted saying "such horrific political violence has no place in our society, and every leader must unequivocally condemn it".
"Our prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families as well as the people of Minnesota during this tragic time," he says.
\"\"<\/span><\/span>Anthony Zurcher<\/strong>
North America correspondent<\/span>
Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota legislator who was murdered earlier today, had been a prominent voice in the state\u2019s Democratic Party.
She had served in the state\u2019s House of Representatives for 20 years and led the chamber as its speaker from 2019 to 2025.
In 2020, she became an advocate for policing reform in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, successfully helping to enact a state ban on police choke holds that caused Floyd\u2019s death at the hands of Minneapolis police.
When Republicans gained seats in the chamber in November 2024 elections, Hortman led a boycott of the legislative session beginning in January.
Republicans held narrow control of the chamber until a special election in March filled a traditionally Democratic seat, resulting in a power-sharing agreement in which Hortman was a key player.
The Minnesota legislature just ended a special session in which it passed a budget resolution.
Hortman joined Republicans as the lone Democratic vote in support of a provision preventing adult undocumented migrants from accessing the state\u2019s low-income health insurance system.
Hortman defended her vote as part of a larger compromise to pass a budget in the narrowly divided chamber.
"I did what leaders do, I stepped up and I got the job done for the people of Minnesota," she said.
Hortman was killed four days later.
The shootings took place in Champlin and Brooklyn Park, two neighbouring cities near Minneapolis
A shelter-in-place order has been issued by Brooklyn Park police
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the shooting appears to be a "politically motivated assassination"
Walz has also urged people not to attend political rallies until the suspect in the shootings is caught
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