US State Lawmaker Melissa Hortman delivers a public speech before her tragic death in Minnesota.
Champlin, Minnesota, United States (Epicstorian News) — In a chilling act of politically motivated violence, a US State Lawmaker, Melissa Hortman, and her husband were killed in Minnesota over the weekend, state officials confirmed.
The attack, which left another legislator wounded, is now under federal and local investigation.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described the incident as “a direct assault on our democracy,” following reports that the shooting was a targeted political act.
US State Lawmaker Melissa Hortman Confirmed Dead in Shooting
Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, a prominent US State Lawmaker, was killed along with her husband during the early hours of Saturday. Hortman, first elected in 2004, was known for her leadership in the Minnesota House of Representatives and her work on legal and progressive policy reforms.
She is survived by two children.
State Senator John Hoffman was also shot but survived the incident. His wife was wounded. Hoffman, a Democrat and founder of Hoffman Strategic Advisors, previously served on the Anoka-Hennepin School Board.
Political Motive Suspected as US State Lawmakers Targeted
Investigators suspect the shooter may have posed as law enforcement to access the victims’ homes. According to the Associated Press, a source close to the investigation said the suspect used deception to bypass residential security.
Champlin Mayor Ryan Sabas confirmed that the shootings occurred in the lawmakers’ homes, located north of Minneapolis.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI are working closely with local authorities in the ongoing investigation.
Growing Threats Against US State Lawmakers Across the Country
This tragic event comes amid a rising trend of threats against public officials in the U.S. The FBI had earlier warned of increasing politically motivated violence targeting elected representatives.
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Security experts say this incident highlights the urgent need for protective measures for lawmakers facing growing harassment and extremism nationwide.
A Community in Mourning, Democracy Under Fire
Governor Walz has ordered flags at half-staff statewide in honor of the slain US State Lawmaker and her husband. “Melissa was a mother, a wife, and a fearless public servant,” Walz stated.
A candlelight vigil was held Sunday at the Minnesota Capitol, with hundreds of constituents and fellow lawmakers paying tribute to Hortman’s decades of public service.
