Minnesota former house speaker and husband killed in political shooting
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in a politically motivated assassination. A second lawmaker and his wife were shot and wounded.
'We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence,' Walz said at a press conference on Saturday. 'Those responsible for this will be held accountable.'
The wounded lawmaker was identified as state Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, was first elected in 2012. He runs Hoffman Strategic Advisors, a consulting firm. He previously served as vice chair of the Anoka-Hennepin School Board, which manages the largest school district in Minnesota.
Hoffman is married and has one daughter. Hortman was the top House Democratic leader in the state Legislature and a former House speaker. She was first elected in 2004.
Both Hoffman and Hortman represented districts located north of Minneapolis.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said that authorities were actively searching for a suspect. Officials said the suspect was dressed as a law enforcement officer.
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