Minnesota Rep. Hortman, husband killed in politically motivated shooting

• Sen. Hoffman and wife also wounded in separate shooting incident 

Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded in politically motivated shootings overnight, Gov. Tim Walz said Saturday.

Hortman, 55, and her husband Mark were shot in their Brooklyn Park home, while Hoffman, 60, and his wife Yvette were shot about 5 miles away in their Champlin home. Investigators say they believe the suspect was dressed in a manner to appear like a police officer.

Hortman, who leaves behind two children, represented Minnesota House District 34B, and Hoffman Minnesota Senate District 34. Both are members of the Democratic Party. Hoffman and his wife have one child.

At a Saturday morning press conference, Walz called the deaths of Hortman and her husband “a political assassination.”

Multiple law enforcement sources have identified a person of interest being sought by investigators in connection with the shootings as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, of Minnesota.

A WCCO crew saw a vehicle believed to be Boelter’s — with white and yellow lights on top of it and with a license plate that says “police” — towed away from the Hortmans’ home. A number of things were also pulled out of the vehicle.

The sources say there was an extensive list of possible targets among writings found inside the vehicle. More than 50 individuals were listed, including officials beyond Minnesota, abortion rights advocates and abortion facilities.

There were also fliers connected to the “No Kings” protests found inside. Organizers have since canceled events in Minnesota, although hundreds are still gathered in St. Paul.

Authorities say with the active manhunt now in its 11th hour, the search zone is widening.

The suspect was originally described by law enforcement as a White man with brown hair who’s believed to be wearing a blue shirt and blue pants with a black tactical vest.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, says Champlin police first responded to Hoffman’s home at about 2 a.m., with Brooklyn Park police assisting. Hoffman and his wife were each shot multiple times, authorities said.

“We are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt,” Walz said. (CBS News)