Minnesota Politicians' Murders

Information: Walz on 57-year-old gunman's hit list

A 57-year-old man is being sought in the shootings of two Democratic politicians and their respective Minnesota counterparts earlier Friday, two sources told the AP.

The gunman was dressed as a police officer when he first shot Democratic local politician John Hoffman and his wife before killing local politician Melissa Hortman and her husband. ABC News reports that several top Democratic politicians were on a hit list in the gunman's manifesto. Among them are Minnesota Governor and former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and progressive Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

Police say all patrols in the Minneapolis area will work in pairs and urge the public not to open the door to a lone officer, as the gunman is suspected of having been dressed as a police officer.

Minnesota politician murdered in “politically motivated attack”

Democratic local politician Melissa Hortman and her husband have been shot and killed in Minnesota, state governor Tim Walz said.

“They were shot and killed in a politically motivated attack,” he said.

John Hoffman, also a Democratic local politician, and his wife were shot. They have undergone surgery and are alive.

These are two separate shootings that occurred at the politicians’ respective homes. The perpetrator is believed to have been dressed as a police officer and an intense manhunt involving the FBI is underway.

Police say they have found a manifesto in the perpetrator’s car that names several politicians and officials. 

Shooter dressed as police officer in attack on politicians

The suspected perpetrator was dressed as a police officer when he murdered Democratic Minnesota politician Melissa Hortman and her husband, and injured her party colleague John Hoffman and his wife. This is what Police Chief Mark Bruley said according to the local newspaper Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Police met the perpetrator outside Hortman's home, whereupon an exchange of gunfire began before the perpetrator fled the scene on foot. The perpetrator was driving an SUV that, according to Bruley, looked like a police car.

- There is no doubt that you would have thought he would have been a police officer if he had been in this room, he says of the perpetrator at a press conference.

The shootings are suspected to be politically motivated and the police have found a manifesto in which several politicians are singled out.