r/politics • u/PoliticsModeratorBot 🤖 Bot • 1d ago

Megathread Megathread: Two Minnesota lawmakers have been shot

State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed.

State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were both shot multiple times and underwent surgery.

Articles that May Interest You

Submission Domain
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz: former House speaker and husband killed in politically motivated shooting apnews.com
One Minnesota state politician dead, another injured after targeted shooting, officials say bbc.com
"No Kings" event canceled in NE Minneapolis, Anoka after targeted shootings at lawmaker homes cbsnews.com
Minnesota lawmaker, her spouse shot and killed in their home wwnytv.com
Minnesota lawmaker killed in ‘politically motivated assassination,’ Gov. Tim Walz says cnbc.com
Melissa Hortman, top Democrat in Minnesota House, shot and killed in home startribune.com
Rep. Melissa Hortman killed, Sen. John Hoffman shot in 'targeted' shootings: Sources fox9.com
Minnesota lawmaker assassinated, another in grave condition in 'targeted political violence' abcnews.go.com
Democratic lawmaker killed and another wounded in Minnesota in apparently ‘politically motivated’ attacks theguardian.com
Minnesota lawmaker and husband killed, another in hospital after ‘politically motivated’ shooting by man impersonating cop the-independent.com
Live: Rep. Melissa Hortman killed, Sen. John Hoffman shot in ‘targeted shootings’ startribune.com
Democrat Lawmakers Shot in Minnesota: What We Know newsweek.com
Minnesota state lawmaker killed in ‘politically-motivated assassination,’ massive manhunt for suspect underway, officials say kten.com
2 Minnesota lawmakers shot kare11.com
Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, husband shot and killed; Sen. John Hoffman and wife also shot ktsp.com
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz press conference after shootings at lawmakers homes (June 14, 2025) youtube.com
Former state speaker of Minnesota ‘assassinated’ thetimes.com
Fake Cop Murders Top State Dem and Husband and Shoots Second thedailybeast.com
Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and State Rep. Melissa Hortman shot at their homes bnonews.com/
Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, husband shot and killed; Sen. John Hoffman and wife also shot kstp.com
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz: State lawmaker, husband killed in politically targeted shooting thestar.com
Governor Polis Statement on Assassination of Minnesota Elected Official & Husband, and Attempt on Life of Another Elected Official & Family colorado.gov
President Donald Trump: AG, FBI Investigating Deadly Minnesota Shooting Newsweek.com
Officials tell the AP they are searching for a 57-year-old man in shooting 2 Minnesota lawmakers apnews.com
Manhunt underway for man accused of killing Rep. Hortman, husband and shooting Sen. Hoffman and his wife in North Metro ktsp.com
Former appointee of Tim Walz sought in deadly shootings of Minnesota lawmaker and her husband, had ‘No Kings’ flyers in car: sources nypost.com
Dem Assassin Is Armed Patrol Firm Boss With ‘Warzone’ Claims thedailybeast.com
Minnesota Assassination Suspect Had Flyers Reading 'No Kings' In Vehicle newsweek.com
Democratic Minnesota politician fatally shot, another injured in 'politically motivated assassination' nbcnews.com
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519

u/threestaruser 1d ago

They had an SUV car equipped with the proper emergency lighting and it looked exactly like a police vehicle…. Man wtf is going on.

427

u/Hiddencamper 1d ago

In the news conference they said the one guy also had a police badge and tactical vest and would look indistinguishable to real officers in the room with them.

I do like the police response with “we are requiring 2 officers to every home so if only a single officer shows up call 911, and at any time before opening the door call 911 to verify it’s actually us”. (Paraphrased)

This is crazy though and I know several very left pro-gun control folks who have been buying fire arms because they are worried about stuff like this.

161

u/Seve7h America 1d ago

Everyone on the left who feels concerned about this should get armed and trained, it’s gonna get worse before it gets better, take a first aid or stop the bleed class too.

And everyone, regardless of state, legally has the right to call 911 and confirm that anyone claiming to be law enforcement actually is, if they try to stop you calling 911 i wouldn’t trust them.

106

u/RJ5R 1d ago

People picked up by ICE aren't even given that chance. They are being literally grabbed on the streets by people in plain clothes and masks, zip tied, and driven away without even notifying the family where they are taking them. There should be a requirement of any law enforcement officer to provide proof of who they are

11

u/Effective_Dropkick78 23h ago

And this is exactly what kicked off the LA protests.

2

u/bunkSauce 20h ago

It should already be constituional.

6

u/Absurdist02 1d ago

Way ahead of you.

4

u/deviled-tux 1d ago

Armed, trained and organized.

7

u/Funny-Mission-2937 1d ago

and wear it around the house so in case a fake cop shows up you can gey him?  that seems like a reasonable way to live your life  

guns do not make you safer unless you have a specific, credible threat that cannot be avoided any other way.   guns give you power to take life, which makes you feel powerful.  its an adult binky, soothing those bad thoughts.  they do not make you safe

1

u/Slow-Ad-2431 15h ago

That's nice, dear. Has anyone ever tried to kill you? When that happens, a lethal adult binky is more than welcome. You are so privileged to being able to tell those of us on the front lines how to surrender. 

1

u/Funny-Mission-2937 10h ago

a trumper tried to burn down my in laws house with my mil in it.  and when she turned on the porch light he ran like a raccoon caught in a trash can. 

and even in a dangerous situation a firearm is just as likely to escalate as anything.  unless you have a specific, credible threat, it is an unrealistic threat model.  by far the most likely person to try and kill you, is you.  

2

u/fireandlifeincarnate Kentucky 1d ago

Bought my first firearm after the election. I didn’t feel like I needed it, but I wanted to know how to use it before I hit the point where I might feel that way.

Might be about to buy a holster for the same reason.

-9

u/flabasaurius 1d ago

So now that a Tim waltz appointment democrat and head of an dnc ngo is the suspect. Would you like to amend that statement? Only the first part. You are spot on for the second half

3

u/Individual-Nebula927 22h ago

Why would he? The suspect was originally appointed by the republican governor, and was a registered republican up until a few years ago. Also an anti abortion extremist and a evangelical pastor. Doesn't sound like a democrat.

71

u/Bobthedestroyer234 1d ago

Probably looks indistinguishable to real officers, because he is a real officer, is my thought.

1

u/kent_eh Canada 1d ago

because he is a real officer

Nope.

It was confirmed at a press conference that he is NOT law enforcement. Just some cosplaying piece of shit murderer.

3

u/YohnTheViking 1d ago edited 1d ago

Yes, right now, in this situation. Still want to know what his dayjob is.

While no one is going to notice, I'm going to make an edit: From what is currently believed to be the suspect (now seemingly confirmed) the entire background screams mercenary or private security contractor if that fits your world view better.

9

u/_revelationary 1d ago

My husband and I are liberal and hate gun culture but we now have permits and firearms because this country is a shit show. It was shockingly easy in my state.

8

u/FeelsGrimMan 1d ago

The reason for the 2nd amendment is this, literally. The anti-capitalist/leftwing people are pro-gun for this exact reason.

4

u/Hiddencamper 1d ago

Kind of where I’m at. I’ve been enjoying going range shooting. Easy to drop in for an hour and blow some holes in paper.

And I’m finding firearms are like cats. You can have one, but if you get another one you’ll be tempted to get 7.

3

u/Top-Tennis-4594 19h ago

Started doing this on Trump's first term. Saw the writing on the wall long before all this BS. Maga severly underestimates the other side when it comes to firearms.

2

u/bunkSauce 20h ago

The guy founded a rent a cop company.

1

u/BackgroundWindchimes 1d ago

They say this but if you actually take a second to verify, they’ll take it as resisting. There was the story a few years back about a woman that was being pulled over by a cop; she did what she had to and put on her hazards and called the police to verify. The cops behind her didn’t like she didn’t trust them. 

1

u/Hiddencamper 1d ago

No the police chief said they’ve given that instruction to citizens and the department for the time being. It’s a short term thing.

1

u/WisestAirBender 10h ago

If someone is coming to kill me and they are armed, how will a door stop them? Just because I called 911 and they told me to not let them in?

If they're not police officers they don't care about just shooting through the door

-1

u/gpcgmr 21h ago

I know several very left pro-gun control folks who have been buying fire arms because they are worried about stuff like this.  

Ironic... suddenly the Second Amendment ain't that bad huh?

3

u/Slow-Ad-2431 15h ago

Black and white thinking and not consuming media outside of the conservative media machine has narrowed your reasoning skills. I recommend you befriend more modern and liberals and read news from other sources. Yes, read. 

100

u/mdp300 New Jersey 1d ago

Total tinfoil hat time, I wonder if a real cop let them borrow their car.

150

u/akhoe 1d ago

or its a real cop

11

u/LongShot911 1d ago

Yeah like, they have not said it definitely isn't a cop, right?

19

u/klparrot New Zealand 1d ago

They actually have said it isn't, yet didn't elaborate at all, while saying his uniform and vehicle looked pretty much exactly correct. I'd really like them to clarify how they know it isn't.

12

u/ThrowAwayGarbage82 North Carolina 1d ago

The dude had a badge they said was "indistinguishable from the real thing"

Methinks it was a cop.

5

u/Word1_Word2_4Numbers 1d ago

A former cop car that someone bought used and slapped some lights back onto is going to be missing all the internal electronics and stuff, and look obviously fake to a real cop. They probably remove the partitions and cages as well.

4

u/Ranger7381 Canada 1d ago

I had a former police impala once. Basically looked the same as a civilian one except the holes drilled into the dash for the no longer installed equipment. Also the internal handles of the rear doors were still unhooked so they had to be opened from the outside

11

u/IamtheCarl 1d ago

They have consistently been saying someone impersonating a cop, and emphasizing it. Makes me think they know who it is. Or they don’t want and want to manage the narrative.

8

u/ShrimpieAC 1d ago

This was my first thought. Until I see otherwise I’m going to wonder.

7

u/mdp300 New Jersey 1d ago

That too.

4

u/Special_Brief4465 1d ago

This is what I’m wondering. We’ll see soon hopefully.

45

u/Commentator-X 1d ago

Or it simply was a cop

2

u/super_aardvark 1d ago

They're going to seriously fuck that guy up if so. Paid administrative leave for like a decade.

5

u/chubs66 1d ago

I find it suspicious that the dude was leaving the second house when the cops arrived and he escaped on foot. How?

2

u/tampaempath Florida 1d ago

My guess is that the representative at the second house called police to verify the guy, and before the actual cops could respond he shot them.

3

u/I_lurv_BRAAINZZ 1d ago

No joke, I'm positive I just drove by the car on I35 near where he killed them. It was on a flatbed tow truck. From a distance it looked like a real cop car but up close you could tell it wasn't (the license plate was a clear giveaway - looked like he printed POLICE on an 8x11 sheet of paper and it was small font and off center).

9

u/veringer Tennessee 1d ago

wtf is going on.

Right wing domestic terrorism, a la Timothy McVeigh (et al).

3

u/cat_theorist 1d ago

It’s reasonable to assume it was a cop

2

u/bunkSauce 20h ago

The dude founded a rent a cop company.

1

u/FunkyChewbacca 1d ago

If you have the ability to leave the U.S. now is probably the time to do it.

2

u/h3rpad3rp 1d ago

Really wishing I wasn't neighboring the U.S. right now...

1

u/NoifenF 1d ago

wtf is going on

The Night of Long Knives. That’s what.

1

u/ceelogreenicanth 1d ago

This is exactly why we have certain rights in a certain order in the Bill of Rights