Two Democratic state lawmakers shot in Minnesota, search underway for suspect
Authorities on Saturday asked residents of two Minneapolis suburbs to stay indoors as they searched for a suspect posing as a police officer who shot two Democratic state lawmakers and their spouses in their homes, according to local media reports.
Those targeted in the pre-dawn attacks were identified in the reports as state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, of Champlin, and state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, of Brooklyn Park.
The conditions of the victims were not immediately known.
Amy Klobuchar, one of Minnesota's US senators, confirmed the identities of the victims of the 'stunning act of violence' in a post on X, saying her prayers 'are with the Hortman and Hoffman families. Both legislators are close friends and devoted to their families and public service.'
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will speak to reporters shortly to 'address violence targeted at legislators,' his office said.
Walz said in a post on X that he was '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.'
In a later post, Walz said he had activated Minnesota's Emergency Operations Center and was providing the police in the two suburbs 'the full resources' of the state.
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