Two Democrat politicians killed in their Minnesota homes
The shootings come at a volatile time in the United States, with protests due to take place across the country to coincide with a massive military parade in Washington DC marking the 250th anniversary of the US army along with the birthday of US President Donald Trump.
An emotional Tim Waltz addresses the media.Credit: AP
They also follow a week of intense protests in Los Angeles and other major cities against Trump’s immigration raids.
Minnesota’s Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said: “This a dark day for Minnesota and for democracy, but we will not allow fear of violence to define who we are or how we move forward.”
Trump said he had been briefed on the incident, describing it as a terrible shooting that appeared to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers.
“Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.
“Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place.”
Drew Evans, Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said the suspect shot Hoffman and his wife at about 2am, and police attended the scene. At about 3.35am, officers proactively went to check on Hortman at her home, where they encountered the suspect.
“[He] immediately fired at them and they exchanged gunfire, and then the individual was able to escape during that exchange of gunfire,” Evans said.
Brooklyn Park police chief Mark Bruley said the suspect attended Hortman’s home using what appeared to be a police vehicle, which was parked in her driveway with the lights on when officers went to check on her.
The individual was wearing a vest with a Taser and a police badge.
“It was not a real police officer. This was somebody that clearly had been impersonating a police officer, using the trust of this badge and this uniform to manipulate their way into the home,” Bruley said.
The car was seized, and the suspect was now on foot, he said. He advised any residents to call 911 if someone appearing to be a police officer appeared at their door. Legitimate officers were working in pairs.
Former US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head in 2011 and now runs a national gun violence prevention organisation, said she was “horrified and heartbroken” by the shootings.
“My family and I know the horror of a targeted shooting all too well,” she said. “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.”
