Minnesota Lawmaker and Mom of 2 Shot Dead in Home Remembered by Gov. Tim Walz in Emotional Press Conference

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is remembering Melissa Hortman.

Hours after the Democratic representative was killed along with her husband in their home, in what is being called a “politically motivated assassination,” Walz, 61, spoke about the mother of two during an emotional press conference on Saturday, June 14. (Sen. John Hoffman and his wife sustained injuries in a separate attack.)

“Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a sense of service,” the governor said. “She was a formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota.”

Highlighting how Hortman “woke up every day determined to make this state a better place,” Walz added that his colleague “is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many.”

“Minnesota’s thoughts and prayers are with her family, her loved ones, her children and her parents,” he continued.

Police were first alerted to the attack that took place at Hoffman’s home around 2 a.m. local time, Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said in the June 14 press conference. FOX 9 and local NBC affiliate KARE 11 reported that Hortman lives in Champlin and Hoffman resides in Brooklyn Park.

When authorities “proactively” checked on Hortman, they encountered the suspect, who “immediately” fired at them, Evans said, adding, “The individual was able to escape during that exchange of gunfire.”

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Brooklyn Park then issued a shelter-in-place order while searching for the suspect, who was representing himself as law enforcement, according to KARE 11. The suspect is being described as a White male with brown hair, who was wearing a blue shirt, blue pants and black body armor.

During the June 14 press conference, Walz said Hoffman and his wife are “out of surgery” and “receiving care.” He continued, “We are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt,” which he also described as “an act of targeted political violence.”

Hortman was elected in 2004. She was “particularly active in the areas of transportation, K-12 education funding, higher education, energy and the environment,” according to her website.

She previously studied at Boston University, the University of Minnesota and Harvard Kennedy School, per her biography from the Minnesota House of Representatives.

The politician worked for former Senators Al Gore and John Kerry in years past, and she also took part in various philanthropic efforts.

Hortman and husband Mark shared two children together.