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Here’s where things stand on Saturday 14 June 2025:
- 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
- Democratic state lawmaker John Hoffman and his wife were also shot, and Walz says he is “cautiously optimistic” of their recovery
- US President Donald Trump says the shootings appear to be a “targeted attack against state lawmakers,” adding such “horrific violence will not be tolerated”
- The suspect in the Hortman shooting is believed to have impersonated a police officer and escaped after engaging fire with officers, police say
- 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
(19:31) List of names and manifesto found in suspect’s car, police say
We have some more details from 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.
(19:25) This is unacceptable, Pennsylvania governor says
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 — 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, Shapiro’s official residence was subject to an alleged arson attack earlier this year.
(19;17) Homeland security secretary praying for victims of ‘heinous attack’
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.
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.
(19:01) Who was Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman?
Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota legislator who was murdered earlier today, had been a prominent voice in the state’s Democratic Party.
She had served in the state’s 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’s 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’s 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.
(18:54) In pictures: Police at the scene of shootings
(18:40) Walz urges people not to attend rallies until suspect apprehended
Governor Tim Walz says people are being asked not to attend any political rallies until the suspect in the shootings is caught.
“Out of an abundance of caution, my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended,” he writes, external.
There had been plans for various protests and rallies including “No Kings” demonstrations against President Donald Trump. They coincide with a planned military parade in Washington DC to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army.
(18:13) Political violence an increasingly common occurrence in the US
The tragedy of another high-profile episode of gun violence in America is compounded by the political nature of this attack.
Two Democratic legislators were targeted, along with their families, in their homes. Partisan politics in Minnesota, a state that prides itself on its friendly, easy-going attitude, has been more heated recently.
Control of the legislature has repeatedly shifted between the two parties since last November’s general election, as the state held contentious special elections to fill vacated seats.
Political violence is nothing new in America, but it has become an increasingly common occurrence.
Prominent incidents include the arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s house, the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and the hammer-wielding assailant who broke into former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home.
Security around the president and high-profile national politicians is tight, but there are thousands of state and local elected officials with minimal protection.
Today’s attack – said to have been conducted by an assailant, or assailants, posing as law enforcement officers – is a particularly chilling reminder of this.
(18:10) What do we know about the shootings?
- Minnesota state politician Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband were shot and killed in their home early on Saturday morning, Governor Tim Walz says
- State Senator John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife were targeted in their home in a separate shooting. They were shot multiple times and are out of surgery, Walz adds
- Walz says the attacks “appear to be a politically motivated assassination” and a manhunt is under way for a suspect
- The suspect in the Hortman shooting was impersonating a police officer – using a police “badge and uniform” and driving a car that looks like a “police vehicle”, police say
- Minnesota Superintendent Drew Evans said officers received a call at 02:00 local time regarding the incident involving Hoffman and his wife. Evans said another call was placed to police at 03:35, when officers were proactively checking on Hortman
- Police then exchanged gunfire with the suspect at Hortman’s home, but he managed to escape, Evans said
- Authorities warn people in the Brooklyn Park area not to answer their door for a police officer unless there are two officers together
(17:57) No-one in custody but police ‘searching for people of interest‘
Police chief Mark Bruley says several people have been detained and questioned but no-one is in custody currently.
He adds there are “people of interest that we are looking for”.
(17:55) ‘You’d think suspect was an officer if they were in this room’
‘You’d think suspect was an officer if they were in this room’
Police chief Bruley told the news conference that the suspect had a car which looked “exactly like” an SUV patrol car, with blue lights, and was wearing a vest, taser and badge similar to his.
“No doubt if they were in this room you would assume they were a police officer,” he says.
The police chief says there is an “extensive manhunt” involving “hundreds and hundreds of officers and Swat teams”.
“We have thousands of people sheltered in place in the city of Brooklyn Park right now,” he says.
Police are confident the suspect escaped out of the back of the Hortman’s property, he adds.
Bruley says they have the suspect’s car and the man is now on foot.
(17:54) Officers exchanged fire with the suspect at Hortman’s home
Police chief Mark Bruley told a news conference a short while ago that after responding the shooting at John Hoffman’s home, a police sergeant proactively checked on Melissa Hortman.
When they arrived they discovered what appeared to be a police vehicle with its emergency lights on and an officer coming out of the house.
When confronted the individual immediately fired on the officers who exchanged gunfire and they suspect retreated into the home.
Bruley says this person was clearly impersonating an officer and not a member of police themselves.
(17:04) Trump: Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the USA
US President Donald Trump says he has been briefed on the “terrible shooting” in Minnesota and it appears to be a “targeted attack against state lawmakers”.
In a statement shared by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on X, Trump says:
“I have been briefed on the terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears 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.
“Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!”
(17:38) This appears to be targeted attack against state lawmakers, says Attorney General
The US Attorney General Pamela Bondi says the shooting “appears to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers”.
“I am closely monitoring developments in Minnesota after what appears to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers,” she says on X.
“The FBI is on the ground investigating this case alongside state and local partners. This horrific violence will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
(15:29) Increased security in place for officials – public safety commissioner
Bob Jacobson, the commissioner of public safety for Minnesota, says it is a “dark day” but “we will not allow fear or violence to define who we are or how we move forward”.
He says public servants have been “targeted in a violent and cowardly way”.
Jacobson adds that the suspect exploited the trust that “our uniforms are meant to represent” which is “deeply disturbing” to those who wear the badge.
He adds there is increased security in place for elected officials and others who may be at risk.
(17:23) Manhunt under way for suspected gunman
Superintendent Drew Evans says the police and FBI are “actively engaged in a manhunt” for the individual they believe to be responsible for the shooting.
He says the investigation is active, and they will be sharing the identity in due time. He says they are not in a position to reveal the identity now as they are “actively searching” for that individual.
(17:19) Suspect impersonated officer and escaped after shooting, Minnesota police say
Minnesota Superintendent Drew Evans says officers received a call at 02:00 local time this morning regarding the incident involving State senator John Hoffman and his wife.
Evans says another call was placed to police at 03:35, when officers were proactively checking on Democratic politician Melissa Hortman.
Police believe the gunman was impersonating a police officer and escaped after exchanging fire with officers who responded to the attacks.
(17:18) ‘We do not settle differences with violence or at gunpoint’
Walz says “peaceful discourse” is the foundation of US democracy and differences are not settled with “violence or at gunpoint”.
He says Minnesota has proven it is “possible” even in “politically charged times” to find compromise.
He adds collaboration with state and federal agencies for a “full investigation” and he assures those responsible “will be held accountable”.
(17:13) Democratic politician John Hoffman and wife ‘shot multiple times’, says governor
Walz continues and says State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were each “shot multiple times”.
He says they are out of surgery and he is “cautiously optimistic” that they will survive “this assassination attempt”.
This was an “act of targeted political violence”, he says.
(17:03) Walz says killing appears to be politically motivated assassination
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed this morning in what appears to be a “politically motivated assassination”.
He says an “unspeakable tragedy has unfolded in Minnesota”. He adds the state has lost a “great leader” and he has lost a “great friend”.
(16:53) Minnesota state lawmaker killed, another injured, after shooting
One lawmaker in the US state of Minnesota has been killed and another has been injured after “targeted shootings”, Governor Tim Walz says.
Democratic politician Melissa Hortman (left in image above) and her husband have been killed, he says.
John Hoffman (right in image above), who is also a Democratic lawmaker, and his wife are recovering after surgery, he adds.