Latest news with #MarkHortman
Bloomberg
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Manhunt Is On for Suspected Killer of Democrats in Minnesota
A manhunt was under way Saturday for a suspect who shot two Democratic Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses and carried a manifesto listing other politicians and abortion providers in the state. Minnesota's Democratic House leader Melissa Hortman, 55, and her husband, Mark, were both shot and killed at their home by a man impersonating a law-enforcement officer, down to a vehicle that looked like a cruiser with lights and sirens, state authorities said. The suspect fled the Hortmans' house on foot.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Politics was never brought into this neighbourhood': Minnesota community stunned by murders
The calm of an affluent cul-de-sac, north of Minneapolis, has been shattered. Yellow tape, establishing a police cordon, now marks it as the scene of a double murder. Former state speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were gunned down in their own home in the early hours of Saturday. The gardens in this street are immaculately manicured but John Sampson is tending his again, a distraction tactic perhaps. He knew the murdered couple well. His daughter was their babysitter. "Very kind, very neighbourly, very intelligent," he recalls. Of Ms Hortman, he said: "She would know other people that were on the other side of the aisle, but it didn't matter to her. "Politics was never brought into the neighbourhood." Other neighbours remained behind closed doors, where they had initially been ordered to shelter following two gun attacks. Long-standing state senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette had been shot and wounded in their home. Police officers sent to check on his Democratic colleague, Melissa Hortman, were too late. They encountered a man disguised as a police officer leaving her home and exchanged fire with him, but he escaped, sparking a manhunt. Minnesota governor Mike Walz, who ran for vice president last year, described the murders as "politically motivated". That's something the residents of this suburban network of streets find hard to comprehend. "Nationally and stuff, things are very volatile in the political scene and I just pray that it's not here," John Sampson told me. "I hoped it would never come anywhere near here, that anyone has to go through this type of tragedy." "I feel very sad for the children and for the family left behind," he added. Read more from Sky News:Trooping the Colour - see best pics Ms Hortman was a Democrat but voted with Republicans last Thursday to get a budget bill through. The compromise was painful for her - withholding free healthcare from undocumented migrants. Speaking afterwards, she tearfully explained: "I know that people will be hurt by that vote, and we worked very hard to get a budget deal that wouldn't include that provision." Whatever the motivation for the murders of the politician and her husband, two children have lost both their parents. And gun violence has claimed more lives in a deeply polarised America.
Sky News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
'Politics was never brought into this neighbourhood': Minnesota community stunned by murders
The calm of an affluent cul-de-sac, north of Minneapolis, has been shattered. Yellow tape, establishing a police cordon, now marks it as the scene of a double murder. Former state speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were gunned down in their own home in the early hours of Saturday. The gardens in this street are immaculately manicured but John Sampson is tending his again, a distraction tactic perhaps. He knew the murdered couple well. His daughter was their babysitter. "Very kind, very neighbourly, very intelligent," he recalls. Of Ms Hortman, he said: "She would know other people that were on the other side of the aisle, but it didn't matter to her. "Politics was never brought into the neighbourhood." Other neighbours remained behind closed doors, where they had initially been ordered to shelter following two gun attacks. Long-standing state senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette had been shot and wounded in their home. Police officers sent to check on his Democratic colleague, Melissa Hortman, were too late. They encountered a man disguised as a police officer leaving her home and exchanged fire with him, but he escaped, sparking a manhunt. Minnesota governor Mike Walz, who ran for vice president last year, described the murders as "politically motivated". That's something the residents of this suburban network of streets find hard to comprehend. "Nationally and stuff, things are very volatile in the political scene and I just pray that it's not here," John Sampson told me. "I hoped it would never come anywhere near here, that anyone has to go through this type of tragedy." "I feel very sad for the children and for the family left behind," he added. Ms Hortman was a Democrat but voted with Republicans last Thursday to get a budget bill through. The compromise was painful for her - withholding free healthcare from undocumented migrants. Speaking afterwards, she tearfully explained: "I know that people will be hurt by that vote, and we worked very hard to get a budget deal that wouldn't include that provision." Whatever the motivation for the murders of the politician and her husband, two children have lost both their parents.
SBS Australia
13 hours ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
US Democrat Melissa Hortman killed in 'politically motivated assassination'
The killing of Melissa Hortman (left), a former assembly speaker and her husband, Mark, prompted reactions of shock and horror from Republican and Democratic politicians across the US. Source: AP / AP A gunman posing as a police officer killed a senior Democratic state assemblywoman and her husband on Saturday local time in an apparent "politically motivated assassination", and wounded a second lawmaker and his spouse, said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and law enforcement officials. Democratic former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their Brooklyn Park home. Senator John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were injured at their Champlin address, about 15 kilometres away. Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said authorities were looking for 57-year-old Vance Boelter, and he had not yet been caught. Authorities displayed a photo of Boelter wearing a tan cowboy hat that was taken Saturday and asked the public to report sightings. Evans said investigators obtained video as well. Boelter is a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, state records show, though it was not clear if or how well they knew each other. Authorities said the suspect had "No Kings" flyers in his car and writings mentioning the names of the victims as well as other lawmakers and officials, though they could not say if he had any other specific targets. "We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence," Walz, said at a news conference. "Those responsible for this will be held accountable." Law enforcement agents recovered several AK-style firearms from the suspect's vehicle, and he was believed to still be armed with a pistol. Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans' home shortly after 2am, Champlin police said, and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds. After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to check on Hortman's home. There they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer at the door, leaving the house. "When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home" and escaped, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. Trump said in a White House statement that the FBI would join in the investigation. Hortman, 55, had been the top Democratic leader in the state House since 2017. She led House Democrats in a three-week walkout at the beginning of this year's session in a power struggle with Republicans. Under a power-sharing agreement, she turned the gavel over to the top Republican, Lisa Demuth, and assumed the title speaker emerita. Hortman used her position as speaker in 2023 to help champion expanded protections for abortion rights. Hoffman, 60, was first elected in 2012 and was chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, which oversees one of the biggest parts of the state budget.
Fox News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Who are the shooting victims in the 'targeted' attacks against Minnesota lawmakers?
One Minnesota lawmaker and her husband are dead and a senator and his wife are injured as authorities search for the shooter in what officials are calling "targeted" attacks on political figures and their families. Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, 55, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2004 and had been serving her 11th term as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. She acted as minority leader from 2017 to 2019, and as speaker of the House from 2019 to 2025. She previously worked for senators Al Gore and John Kerry before enrolling in law school and eventually starting her own practice. Hortman and husband Mark, who was also killed in the attack, are survived by two adult children. She reportedly worked with multiple organizations throughout her community and was described as a "lifelong resident of the northern suburbs, a mother, a volunteer and a small business person," according to her website. Hortman made headlines earlier this week for being the only House Democrat voting to repeal taxpayer-funded healthcare coverage for adult illegal immigrants. "I know that people will be hurt by that vote, and we worked very hard to try and get a budget deal that wouldn't include that provision," Hortman said after the vote, according to KTTC. Hortman reportedly voted against the bill to move the budget through the state's split legislature. Earlier this year, Hortman led House Democrats in a three-week walkout as the split legislature wrestled over power with Republicans. Hortman ultimately relinquished the gavel to Rep. Lisa Demuth and assumed the role of speaker emerita. "Our state lost a great leader, and I lost the dearest of friends," Gov. Tim Walz said. "Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a sense of service. She was a formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota. She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many." Sen. John Hoffman, 60, and wife Yvette were also shot Saturday but are expected to survive. Hoffman was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2012 and is serving his fourth term as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Prior to taking office, Hoffman served as vice chair of the Anoka-Hennepin School Board. He serves as the chair of the Human Services Committee and holds a seat on the Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee, along with the Environment, Climate and Legacy Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee. Hoffman and his wife have one child. "My heart is broken over the events that unfolded overnight and the loss of life, security and peace that we are all feeling right now," Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson said in a statement. "The families of Speaker Melissa Hortman and Senator John Hoffman are in my prayers. Senate Republicans are unified in our condemnation of this brazen act of violence." On Saturday afternoon, authorities released the name of a suspect wanted in the attacks as a manhunt for the shooter continues. Vance Boelter, 57, was identified as the suspected gunman. Surveillance footage released by police shows Boelter wearing a brown cowboy hat inside a Minneapolis business hours after the attacks, and a second photo revealed a masked gunman wearing police-like tactical gear and carrying a flashlight outside a home. Authorities did not reveal a possible motive for the violence. Police were called to the Hoffmans' home shortly after 2 a.m. and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds, according to authorities. As a precautionary measure, officers were sent to Hortman's home. Upon their arrival, authorities encountered a man dressed as a police officer at Hortman's home and what appeared to be a patrol car parked outside. "When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home" and escaped, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. Several AK-style guns were recovered from the suspect's vehicle, along with a pile of "No Kings" flyers, an apparent nod to the anti-Trump administration protests sweeping the nation this weekend. Boelter is believed to be armed with a pistol. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Boelter's arrest. Authorities believe Boelter may be trying to flee the area, and he is considered armed and dangerous. Boelter is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs about 220 pounds. Officials ask anyone with information about Boelter's whereabouts to call 877-996-6222.
