Two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses were shot in separate early-morning home attacks on Saturday, sparking shock and raising questions about political safety. The incidents occurred in Brooklyn Park and a nearby suburb, approximately 15 kilometers apart, with authorities investigating potential connections between the cases.
Melissa Hortman, a Democratic legislator, and her husband were fatally wounded in Brooklyn Park, a Minneapolis-adjacent city. In a related attack, fellow Democrat John Hoffman and his wife sustained multiple gunshot wounds at their residence. Both families were reportedly targeted in what law enforcement described as coordinated assaults.
While the motives remain unclear, the attacks have intensified discussions about security protocols for public officials. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the violence, stating: "This targeted brutality against those serving our communities is unacceptable." Federal agencies have joined local authorities in the ongoing investigation.
