Minnesota Lawmaker Gunned Down, State Senator Wounded in Chilling Political Attack
FBI Hunts Armed Suspect After Brutal Shooting of Democratic Leaders in Minneapolis Suburbs
Minneapolis, June 14: A state in shock. That’s the only way to describe Minnesota this morning, after an act of raw political violence left State Representative Melissa Hortman dead and Senator John Hoffman fighting for his life. Authorities aren’t speculating anymore. They’ve called it what it is: a targeted, calculated attack—one aimed squarely at the heart of public service.
One Night, Two Shootings, Too Many Questions
It started just after 2 a.m., in Champlin, a quiet suburb that rarely sees this kind of chaos. Police arrived at Senator Hoffman’s home after a neighbor reported hearing multiple gunshots. Inside, both Hoffman and his wife were barely conscious, bleeding badly. They were rushed into surgery, and at last check, both remained in critical care.
But things didn’t end there.
Around 3:30 a.m., officers responded to another incident—this one in Brooklyn Park, roughly 20 minutes away. What they found was jarring: a man dressed in what looked like a police uniform, standing outside Rep. Hortman’s home. When approached, he didn’t wait for questions. He opened fire.
The shooter escaped. Inside the home, both Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were found dead.
Not much later, investigators located the suspect’s vehicle, abandoned. Inside was something even more disturbing than the uniform: a hand-written manifesto, and a list. A list of names. Targets. Most were politicians. Many were Democrats. Some worked in healthcare.
It wasn’t random. Not even close.
The Governor Doesn’t Hold Back
Governor Tim Walz, visibly rattled, addressed the media as the sun came up.
“This was an assassination,” he said, plainly. “Let’s not mince words. This wasn’t someone lashing out in frustration. It was someone executing a plan.”
He went on to confirm that the state had entered “emergency coordination” with federal agencies including the FBI, ATF, and Homeland Security. The manhunt was on. And so was the fear.
Who Was Melissa Hortman?
To her constituents, Rep. Hortman was tough but thoughtful. Not flashy. Not polarizing. She fought hard on climate change, pushed for women’s health rights, and was one of the few in the legislature who still believed in crossing the aisle when needed.
She was 54. She had served Minnesota with quiet consistency for years. Her murder has left a hole not just in her party—but in her community.
“She didn’t make noise for the sake of it,” said one longtime colleague. “She made policy. And people respected that.”
A State on Edge
Soon after the attacks, officials across the state were told to shelter in place. “No Kings” protests planned in multiple cities were immediately cancelled.
At the Capitol in St. Paul, security presence tripled. Staffers walked the halls in silence. One aide, speaking anonymously, said, “You could feel the fear. It wasn’t just grief. It was something heavier.”
And the threat? Still very real.
According to sources close to the investigation, the shooter may not have acted alone. That manifesto? It named more than a dozen public officials. Some have gone offline. Others, under guard.
Political Lines Blur as Leaders Respond
For a few hours, politics took a backseat.
Donald Trump, speaking at a late-night event, didn’t dodge the issue: “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated,” he said. “We’re throwing the full weight of the DOJ behind this.”
Senator Amy Klobuchar, who had known Hortman since their early days in Minnesota politics, posted just one line on social media: “A voice of reason, silenced.”
Chuck Schumer called it “domestic terrorism.” Speaker Mike Johnson urged leaders to “stand together, no matter the party.”
And maybe, just maybe, people will—for a moment, at least.
The Bigger Picture Nobody Wants to See
What happened in Champlin and Brooklyn Park wasn’t just tragic. It was a warning.
The attacker came dressed like a cop. Drove a fake squad car. Knew where his targets lived. He got into their homes. He pulled the trigger.
That level of planning doesn’t come from a random grudge. It comes from ideology—one that sees political opponents not as rivals, but as enemies. It’s not just a problem for Minnesota. It’s a national one.
And for many public servants, the question now isn’t just how to govern—it’s whether they’re safe to do so at all.
Where Things Stand Now
At the time of this writing, no suspect has been publicly named. Law enforcement has issued bulletins across the state and beyond. Surveillance footage, online activity, phone records—everything is under the microscope.
Federal authorities are treating this as a domestic terrorism investigation. Security has been extended to several state lawmakers. And the Capitol Police have advised legislatures across the country to “reassess risk posture.”
Back in Brooklyn Park, candles and flowers now line the sidewalk outside the Hortman residence. The house is quiet. A police cruiser idles out front.
No words can quite sum it up. But one local resident, passing by, said this:
“This isn’t supposed to happen here. Not like this.”
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Raj Chaubey is a Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald, specializing in political and geopolitical news. As a student at Delhi University, Raj combines academic rigor with a commitment to investigative journalism, aiming to uncover the broader implications of current events. His daily articles strive to offer our audience a deeper understanding of complex political landscapes and their global connections.
- Raj Chaubeyhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/raj_c/
- Raj Chaubeyhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/raj_c/
- Raj Chaubeyhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/raj_c/
- Raj Chaubeyhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/raj_c/
