Melissa Hortman, a United States lawmaker, has been killed
by a shooter in Minnesota.
Confirming the incident, Tim Walz, Minnesota governor, said
Hortman, a democratic politician, and her husband were killed by the shooter at
their home.
In another incident in the state, Walz said John Hoffman,
also a democratic lawmaker, and his wife were also shot.
The governor said Hoffman and his wife were each “shot
multiple times”, adding that they are out of surgery and he is cautiously
optimistic that they will survive “this assassination attempt”.
He added that the incident was an “act of targeted political
violence”.
Walz said state and federal agencies are collaborating on a
full investigation, and he assured that those responsible would be held
accountable.
Mark Bruley, the state police chief, said at a press
briefing that after responding to the shooting at John Hoffman’s home, a police
sergeant checked on Melissa Hortman.
He said when they arrived, they found what appeared to be a
police vehicle that looked “exactly like” an SUV patrol car with blue lights
and an officer coming out of the house.
He said when confronted, the individual wearing a vest,
taser and badge similar to his, immediately fired on the officers who exchanged
gunfire, and the suspect retreated into the home.
Bruley said the individual was impersonating an officer and
not a member of the police force.
“No doubt if they were in this room, you would assume they
were a police officer,” he said.
The police chief said 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 said.
He added that several people have been detained and
questioned, but no one is currently in custody.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, in a statement shared
on X by Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, said he has been briefed
on the “terrible shooting” in Minnesota, and it 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,” the statement reads.
“Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United
States of America. God bless the great people of Minnesota; it is a truly great
place!”
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