UPDATE: Gov. Tim Walz announced at a press briefing that Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed in the shootings. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were seriously wounded. Walz had previously described the shootings as “targeted.”
Governor Tim Walz Confirms Melissa’s Hortman & her husband have died & that THIS WAS A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED SHOOTING.
Sen. John Hoffman & his wife are in surgery and expected to survive. Their homes were in Champlin & Brooklyn .Both lawmakers & spouses shot by suspect(s)… pic.twitter.com/KP8JxXQ5ya— Johnny St.Pete (@JohnMcCloy) June 14, 2025
Two Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party lawmakers and their spouses were shot in ‘targeted’ attacks at their homes early Saturday by a man dressed as a police officer, according to reports. (A later apparently mistaken report stated a second suspect was involved. Update at end of article.)
Gov. Tim Walz (D) has activated State Emergency Operations Center while authorities are warning residents in the two close-by towns where the shootings occurred, Champlin and Brooklyn Park, to shelter in place.
Note: Initial media reports gave the name Melissa Hoffman, her correct name is Melissa Hortman.
KSTP-TV reporter John Hauser: “BREAKING: Multiple sources tell 5 Eyewitness News at least two MN state lawmakers were shot at their homes last night by a gunman impersonating a police officer. DFL Speaker Emerita Melissa Hoffman in Brooklyn Park and DFL Sen. John Hoffman in Champlin. Working on more details.”
BREAKING: Multiple sources tell 5 Eyewitness News at least two MN state lawmakers were shot at their homes last night by a gunman impersonating a police officer. DFL Speaker Emerita Melissa Hoffman in Brooklyn Park and DFL Sen. John Hoffman in Champlin. Working on more details. pic.twitter.com/ZjI7r00846
— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) June 14, 2025
Excerpt from KMSP-TV report:
Police say they are looking for a suspect in multiple targeted shootings. The suspect is armed and dangerous. The suspect is a white man with brown hair wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants and he may be impersonating law enforcement.
Authorities say there were two suspects involved in the shooting. One suspect is in custody after an officer-involved shooting in Brooklyn Park.
Two state lawmakers were shot in an apparent “targeted” incident on Saturday, officials said. Their conditions are grave.
A source familiar with the matter tells ABC News that two of those shot are state Sen. John Hoffman of Champlin and state Rep. Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park. Both were shot at their homes, and authorities believe the shooter was impersonating law enforcement, the source says.
Statements by Gov. Walz, “I’ve been briefed this morning on an ongoing situation involving targeted shootings in Champlin and Brooklyn Park. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement are on the scene. We will share more information soon…I’ve activated the State Emergency Operations Center. Local law enforcement in Champlin and Brooklyn Park have the full resources of the State of Minnesota behind them. We are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information soon.”
I’ve been briefed this morning on an ongoing situation involving targeted shootings in Champlin and Brooklyn Park.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement are on the scene. We will share more information soon.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) June 14, 2025
I’ve activated the State Emergency Operations Center.
Local law enforcement in Champlin and Brooklyn Park have the full resources of the State of Minnesota behind them.
We are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information soon.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) June 14, 2025
UPDATE: There is only one suspect being sought so far. Earlier reports, as happens with breaking news, were incorrect.
Excerpt from CNN report on the briefing on the shootings given by Minnesota officials Saturday morning:
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Law enforcement was first called around 2 a.m. local time on Saturday with reports that someone had shot Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. Police responded to their home and provided life-saving measures before the couple was transported to the hospital, according to Drew Evans, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension superintendent.
Around 3:35 a.m., another call came in when officers were proactively checking on Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman’s home.
When Brooklyn Park police officers arrived, they noticed that there was a police vehicle in the driveway with emergency lights on and what appeared to be a police officer at the door, coming out of the house, officials said. That individual immediately fired a weapon at them, Evans said, and an exchange of gunfire took place, during which the suspect was able to escape.
