Minnesota lawmaker and husband killed, one other in hospital after ‘politically motivated’ taking pictures by man impersonating cop

A Minnesota lawmaker and her husband were killed, and a second is recovering from surgery, after a man posing as a cop targeted them in a “politically motivated” shooting overnight Saturday.

State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed around 3:35 a.m. at their Brooklyn Park home, officials confirmed during a press conference Saturday.

Police were already on the scene at Senator John Hoffman’s Chaplin home, where he and his wife were also shot by someone impersonating a police officer around 2 a.m.

They were taken to a nearby hospital and are now recovering from surgery, officials said.

After the Hoffmans were shot, police checked Hortman’s home and found a man in a police uniform at the door.

He shot Hortman’s husband, fired at officers, and entered the home. Officers used drones to search the house and found Melissa Hortman shot. The suspect fled out the back of the home.

The suspect remains at large. He is described as a white male with brown hair who was last seen wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants.

Officials say the suspect drove a squad-like SUV with emergency lights. Inside, they found a manifesto naming multiple lawmakers and other officials.

He also wore a realistic-looking police badge.

“There is no question that if they were in this room, you would assume that they are a police officer,” BPPD Chief Mark Bruley said Saturday in a press conference.

“This is a dark day today for Minnesota and for democracy. We will not allow fear or violence to define who we are, or how we move forward,” Bob Jacobson, the Commissioner of Public Safety for the state of Minnesota, said during the conference.

“The suspect exploited the trust of our uniforms that our uniforms are meant to represent, that the trail is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility,” Jacobson continued.

The Independent has reached out to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for more information.

A shelter-in-place order remains in effect in Brooklyn Park in a three-mile radius around the Edinburgh Golf Course.

Residents are urged not to approach the suspect and to call 911.

“Do not answer door unless two officers approach together. Call 911 to verify officer identity first,” Brooklyn Park Police said in an emergency alert.

This is a breaking news story. More information will be added as it becomes available.

Source: independent.co.uk