Minnesota state lawmakers shot, one killed, search underway for suspect, state governor says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A Democratic state lawmaker and her husband were killed early Saturday in what appeared to be a "politically motivated assassination," while a second lawmaker and his spouse were wounded in a separate attack, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said.
"An unspeakable tragedy has unfolded in Minnesota - my good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, were shot and killed early this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination," he told reporters.
"Our state lost a great leader," he said.
Walz said that in a second attack, Senator John Hoffman and his wife, of Champlin, were shot multiple times, underwent surgery and that he was "cautiously optimistic" that they would survive "this assassination attempt."
"This was an act of targeted political violence," he said. "Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don't settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint."
Law enforcement authorities said the gunman was impersonating a police officer and escaped after exchanging fire with police who responded to the attacks.
A large-scale search for the suspect was underway, they said.
(Reporting by Jonathan Landay, editing by Michelle Nichols and Diane Craft)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Zelenskiy says current front lines should be the start for negotiations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy walks to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street, in London, Britain, August 14, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File Photo KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking in Brussels on Sunday, said the current front lines in his country's war against Russia should be the basis for peace talks. "We need real negotiations, which means we can start where the front line is now," Zelenskiy said, adding that European leaders supported this. Zelenskiy was speaking ahead of a virtual meeting with European leaders and before he travels to Washington to meet with Donald Trump following the U.S. leader's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Zelenskiy reiterated his position that it was necessary to establish a ceasefire in order to then negotiate a final deal. "It's important that Washington is with us," the Ukrainian leader said. He will be accompanied by several European allies for Monday's talks with Trump. Zelenskiy said that Ukraine did not yet know all the demands made by Putin at the meeting with Trump on Friday, adding that it would take a long time to go over them -- and that this was not possible under "the pressure of weapons". (Reporting by Max HunderEditing by Tomasz Janowski and Frances Kerry)
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
US may not be able to create scenario to end war in Ukraine, Rubio says
THE United States will keep trying to create a scenario to help end Russia's war with Ukraine, but that might not be possible, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS on Sunday. 'If peace is not going to be possible here and this is just going to continue on as a war, people will continue to die by the thousands ... we may unfortunately wind up there, but we don't want to wind up there,' Rubio said in an interview with the 'Face the Nation' show. REUTERS
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Zelenskiy says current front lines should be the start for negotiations
KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking in Brussels on Sunday, said the current front lines in his country's war against Russia should be the basis for peace talks. 'We need real negotiations, which means we can start where the front line is now,' Zelenskiy said, adding that European leaders supported this. Zelenskiy reiterated his position that it was necessary to establish a ceasefire in order to then negotiate a final deal - REUTERS
