A gunman shot two Democratic state lawmakers in Minnesota early on Saturday, killing one and her husband while injuring the other, in what the state’s governor described as politically motivated violence.
The attack occurred amid heightened political tension in the United States, as thousands protested the policies of Republican President Donald Trump.
Authorities said the suspect remained at large, and a large-scale manhunt was underway.
President Trump and US Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the “horrific violence” and vowed to prosecute the perpetrator to the full extent of the law.
Governor Tim Walz told reporters that State Representative Melissa Hortman, a former speaker, and her husband Mark were killed at their home near Minneapolis.
State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette also sustained gunshot wounds. Walz, visibly emotional, said he remained “cautiously optimistic” about their recovery.
“This was a deliberate act of political violence,” said Walz. “Peaceful discourse is the bedrock of our democracy — not violence or gunfire.”
Drew Evans, head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, explained that the assailant shot Hoffman and his wife first. About 90 minutes later, while police were investigating, the suspect attacked Hortman and her husband.
The gunman managed to flee following an exchange of gunfire with officers near Hortman’s residence.
“We’re actively hunting the suspect,” said Evans.
Authorities believe the attacker impersonated a police officer in both incidents.
“The suspect took advantage of the public’s trust in our uniform,” stated Bob Jacobson, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
A planned anti-Trump demonstration in Minneapolis, part of a national “No Kings” protest, was cancelled after police imposed a shelter-in-place order due to the shootings.
Investigators found protest flyers and a manifesto naming several politicians in the suspect’s car. Local broadcaster KSTP reported that police are seeking a white male with brown hair, wearing black body armour over a blue shirt and trousers.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley confirmed, “We have recovered the suspect’s vehicle. He is now on foot.”
Tensions in the US have been rising since Trump returned to the White House in January, facing criticism for his immigration crackdown, hostility towards media and universities, and an aggressive push for executive powers.
Governor Walz urged Americans to reject political violence: “This terrible event should remind us that debate and democracy — not violence — must guide our future.”
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, a long-time colleague of Hortman, praised her dedication to women’s rights and clean energy.
“This was an attack on everything our democracy stands for,” she said.
Senator Tina Smith also condemned the attack, while former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, herself a survivor of political gun violence, said she was “devastated” by Hortman’s death.
“We must protect democracy from those who attempt to destroy it with a gun,” Giffords posted on X.