Minnesota politician and husband shot dead by person 'pretending to be police officer'
Senator Tim Walz says lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband have been killed while John Hoffman and his wife were injured after "targeted shootings".
A gunman allegedly pretending to be a police officer has shot dead a top US politician and left another injured, according to early reports.
A lawmaker in the US state of Minnesota has been killed and another has been injured after "targeted shootings", says Senator Tim Walz.
Waltz noted that Melissa Hortman and her husband have been killed. Meanwhile, John Hoffman and his wife are recovering after surgery, according to Minnesota mayor Ryan Sabas of Champlin, reports the Mirror.
Reports online suggest that police officers received a 911 call around 2am local time regarding a shooting at Hoffman's house. This prompted officers to be dispatched to Hortman's house, where they encountered a suspect who shot at them.
But sources claim officers arrived minutes too late with both Hortmans shot dead by a "suspect impersonating a cop".
There is an ongoing manhunt for a person of interest related to the shooting - but authorities are yet to reveal further details as the part of the investigation.
A person close with the matter said investigators believe that the suspect may have been posing as a law enforcement officer, however, this has is yet to be confirmed. The source also told of how investigators were still working to establish motive for the attacks and were still in the early stages of an investigation.
According to tweets online, the suspected shooter's car - which was a "fake cop car" - contained a "manifesto" that named other Minnesota political figures. The names are under enhanced protection to prevent further copycat attacks.
Speaking to the press, Walz has described the killing as an "unspeakable tragedy" that "has unfolded in Minnesota". He also added the state has lost a "great leader" and that he has personally lost a "great friend".
Ms Hortman was the top House Democratic leader in the state legislature and a former house speaker and was first elected in 2004. A former lawyer, she leaves behind her husband and two children.
Mr Hoffman, a Democrat, was first elected in 2012 and runs Hoffman Strategic Advisors, a consulting firm. He previously served as vice-chairman of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, which manages the largest school district in Minnesota. Mr Hoffman who has reportedly survived the attack, is married and has one daughter.
Both Mr Hoffman and Ms Hortman represent districts located north of Minneapolis.
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