Two Minnesota Legisters and their partners, shot in homes. Died a former president of the State Chamber of Representatives and her husband
Melisa Hortman was part of the room of representatives of the state of Minnesota, which she drove. Credit: Steve Karnowski / AP / Profimedia
Melissa Hortman, a member and former president of the Chamber of Representatives in Minnesota, and her husband, Mark, were deadly shot on Saturday morning, in “What a political motivated assassination,” Tim Walz, said in a press conference, according to CNN.
The same attacker shot John Hoffman several times, a member of the Minnesota Senate, and his wife, the governor said. The two have gone through a surgery and are alive.
“Hofmanii are out of the operation at this time and receive care, and we are optimistic, although cautious, that they will survive this assassination attempt,” said the Minnesota government.
Officials who participated in the press conference said that the suspect has not yet been caught, and the authorities started a large operation to find it.
FBI also participates in the investigation. Authorities are looking for a man dressed in a black antiglon vest and a blue shirt, which may have been given as a policeman, a source of the law enforcement authorities said.
“This is an act of amazing violence (…). My prayers are with families Hortman and Hoffman,” said Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota senator in the US Congress.
Tim Waltz has activated the state center for emergency operations and is on the spot, the governor spokesman Teddy Tschann announced.
“We closely monitor the situation,” the governor said.
The former Congressmen Gabby Giffords, currently the leader of the National Organization for Prevention of Armed Giffords, said on Saturday that she is “terrified and with a broken heart of last night's attack on two civil servants.”
“My family and I know the horror of a targeted attack too well. An attack on legislators is an attack on American democracy itself. Leaders have to take attitude and condemn violent extremism that threatens everything this country represents,” added Giffords, who was one of the 13 people injured in a parking lot in 2011.
