Minnesota lawmaker shot dead, another wounded in targeted attack - UPDATED
A Minnesota state representative and her husband were killed and a state senator and his wife were wounded in what officials said were separate, targeted shootings early Saturday at their homes near Minneapolis.
A suspect impersonating a police officer remains at large, according to authorities, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a former state House speaker, and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed at their home in Brooklyn Park, Minn., "in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination," Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference, calling it "an unspeakable tragedy."
Earlier, in a separate incident just miles away in Champlin, Minn., Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot and wounded at their home.
State police said there was a list of people found in the suspect's car, and the individuals that were targeted in the situation were on that list.
Speaking to Minnesota Public Radio, Minnesota Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith said she was told her name is on the list. Smith said she did not know who the others are on the list.
Smith said she is in Minnesota and was with Hortman and Hoffman at a Democratic dinner hours before the shooting.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was closely monitoring the situation in Minnesota and that FBI was investigating on the ground with state and local law enforcement. She said the incident "appears to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers."
"This horrific violence will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," she said on X.
Separately, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino said in a statement on X, "The FBI is fully engaged on the ground in Minnesota and is working in collaboration with our local and state partners."
(18:25)
Two Minnesota state lawmakers were shot in apparent "targeted" incidents on Saturday that left them in grave condition, officials said, and a manhunt is now underway for the gunman.
According to a source familiar with the matte, the victims are state Sen. John Hoffman and state Rep. Melissa Hortman, News.Az reports, citing ABC News.
Both were shot at their homes and authorities believe the shooter was impersonating law enforcement, the source said.
The two shooting locations were about 8 miles away from each other in Champlin and Brooklyn Park, just north of Minneapolis.
Both Hoffman and Hortman are Democrats. Hortman is the former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
The FBI is helping with the manhunt, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is also on the scene. Walz said he's activated the State Emergency Operations Center.
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