• Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in a politically motivated shooting.
• State Senator John Hoffman was wounded, and both pair incidents occurred in their respective homes.
• The suspect impersonated a police officer to carry out the attacks, prompting a statewide manhunt.
• The FBI is involved in the investigation into the shooter and potential motives.
• Governor Tim Walz and leaders across the state condemned the shooting as an attack on democracy.

In a tragic incident early Saturday, former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in what Governor Tim Walz described as a politically motivated shooting. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot and wounded in a separate attack, aimed at multiple lawmakers in Minnesota, which has shocked the political community during a time of heightened tensions and violence against officials. This act is under investigation, and the suspect remains at large, according to sfgate and latimes.

The shootings took place in Champlin and Brooklyn Park, both near Minneapolis. As investigators continue to piece together the motive, they suspect the shooter impersonated a law enforcement officer to access the victims' homes. The attacks come amidst growing threats against political leaders in the U.S. during an increasingly polarized environment, as reported by indiatimes and abcnews.

Governor Walz confirmed the devastating nature of the attack, emphasizing the necessity to combat political violence in the statement, "We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence." Both lawmakers had dedicated years to public service, advocating for reproductive rights and stricter gun control, which positioned them as high-profile targets, according to scmp and abcnews.

Authorities reported that the shooter had a list of targets, including prominent Minnesota Democrats, which heightened the ongoing investigation. As the manhunt persists, Governor Walz reiterated the state's stance against any form of violence and called for unity. He stated, "This was a targeted, politically motivated shooting," reinforcing the implications of this violent act on the democratic process. Giffords, a national gun violence prevention organization, condemned the attack as an assault on American democracy itself, reflecting sentiments on the impact of political violence, per lemonde and abcnews.