Minnesota's Democratic state politician Melissa Hortman and husband killed in what appears to be a 'politically motivated assassination'

Sky News AU

15 hours ago

A gunman posing as a police officer has killed a senior Democratic state assemblywoman and her husband in an apparent 'politically motivated assassination'.
Another lawmaker and his spouse were also wounded in the attack, said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and law enforcement officials.
A major search backed by the FBI was launched after the suspect fled on foot after firing at police and abandoning a vehicle in which officers found a "manifesto".
Authorities also discovered a list including the names of other legislators and officials, law enforcement officials said.
The suspect was identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans told a news briefing.
Boelter should be considered "armed and dangerous" and was last seen on Saturday morning (US time) wearing a light-coloured cowboy hat.
The man was believed to still be in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Mr Evans said, adding that it was too soon to determine a motive.
The list found in the abandoned vehicle had about 70 names, reported CNN law enforcement analyst John Miller, a former head of FBI public affairs.
They included abortion providers, pro-abortion rights advocates, and lawmakers in Minnesota and other states, he said.
ABC News, also citing law enforcement officials, said the list included dozens of Minnesota Democrats including Tim Walz.
The killings of Melissa Hortman, a former assembly speaker and her husband, Mark, prompted reactions of shock and horror from Republican and Democratic politicians.
The shootings come after Tim Walz and two other Democratic governors defended their states' policies to maintain sanctuary for undocumented immigrants.
Minnesota State Patrol chief Col. Christina Bogojevic told reporters that police found flyers in the suspect's vehicle with "No Kings" printed on them.
Police have said there were no direct links to the nationwide "No Kings" protests against President Donald Trump's policies taking place on Saturday.
Sky News/Reuters