Two Minnesota State Lawmakers Shot, One Killed, in ‘Politically Motivated’ Attack

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing

Two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses were shot in their homes early Saturday, in what Gov. Tim Walz [pictured right] called "politically motivated" 

An unspeakable tragedy has unfolded in Minnesota," Walz said at a press briefing later Saturday morning.  " My good friend and colleague, [former] Speaker Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark, were shot and killed early this morning in what appears to be a politically-motivated assassination."

Hortman and his wife, Yvette, were also “each shot multiple times,” but both were out of surgery as of mid-morning.

“We are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt,” Walz said.

The pair of shootings, which rocked Minnesota and drew a wave of condemnation nationwide, appears to be just the latest incident of politically fueled violence in the country, including two Israeli embassy staffers killed in Washington last month.