Minnesota shooting latest: Cops in gunfight with suspect but shooter slipped away
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Minnesota authorities admitted they let a gunman who shot a Democratic lawmaker and her husband dead slip away despite engaging him in a firefight immediately after the murders.
State Representative Melissa Hortman was shot along with fellow Democrat John Hoffman, a state senator, in a chilling assassination spree in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Local police, sheriff’s deputies, and the FBI have since launched an extensive manhunt, as authorities say multiple gunmen may be at large.
During a Saturday morning press conference, officials said they are investigating the possibility of multiple shooters, however no one is in custody.
The first shooting occurred just after 2am at Hoffman’s home in Champlin, about 20 miles from Minneapolis. Hoffman and his wife were shot multiple times and remain in critical condition.
The second attack took place at around 4am at Hortman’s Brooklyn Park residence, about eight miles south.
Cops admit they let gunman slip away in 4 am fire fight outside lawmaker’s house
The suspect fired at police officers as they arrived at the home of State Representative Melissa Hortman around 3:35 am.
‘The individual was able to escape during that exchange of gunfire,’ Drew Evans, who leads the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, told the New York Times.
Lockdown silences posh Minneapolis suburb as businesses shutter and streets empty
In the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, the streets are unnervingly quiet as several businesses have shuttered after authorities urged residents to stay indoors.
The normally busy shopping centers are deserted and a sign at a local grocery store reads: ‘Closed (due to lock down).’
Officials warn locals to be vigilant as gunman is ‘heavily armed’
The gunman is reportedly heavily armed, wearing body armor and dressed similarly to the officers chasing him.
Residents of Brooklyn Park are encouraged to continue to stay in their homes, the town’s police chief said said. If a police officer comes to your door, he added, residents should call 911 to confirm whether an officer is supposed to be there.
Also, all Brooklyn Park police officers are working in pairs today, so no officer should be approaching a home alone, he said.
Federal officials are assisting local authorities in the extensive search effort, collecting evidence to track down the on-the-run suspect.
Officials find ‘manifesto’ in suspect’s vehicle
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said the gunman’s vehicle, which bore a close resemblance to a police squad car, contained a ‘manifesto’ and a target list with names of individuals, including the two lawmakers who were shot.
Suspect fires on police before fleeing
Shortly after law enforcement officers responded to a report of a shooting at the home of State Senator John Hoffman, where they found him and his wife injured, officers chose to check on the nearby residence of State Representative Melissa Hortman.
During that check, officers encountered the suspect, who opened fire on them before fleeing the scene.
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