Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (2025)

Minnesota House Speaker Rep. Melissa Hortman died at her home Saturday morning, while her husband died at a nearby hospital, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office reported.

Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed early Saturday morning, June 14, in the second of two reported shootings on state lawmakers, Gov. Tim Walz said at a Saturday morning, June 14, briefing.

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (1)

Also shot Saturday were Sen. John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Officials said Hoffman and his wife underwent surgery for their injuries and are recovering. Walz said he is “optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt.”

According to reports released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office Saturday evening, Rep. Hortman died of multiple gunshot wounds at her home in Brooklyn Park. Mark Hortman also died from multiple gunshot wounds, but his death took place at North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale, the medical examiner's office said.

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (2)

Drew Evans, Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said that at about 2 a.m. Saturday morning, an emergency call was placed within the city of Champlin. Evans said police responding to the situation found that Sen. Hoffman and his wife had been shot.

Evans said that officers, aware that Hortman lived in Brooklyn Park, not far from Hoffman, proactively went to Hortman's home to check on the lawmaker. At approximately 3:35 a.m., officers reported violence at the location.

“They were going to check on Speaker Hortman at that time, at which time Brooklyn Park Police officers encountered the individual, who immediately fired at them. They exchanged gunfire, and then the individual was able to escape.”

Suspect named, manhunt ongoing

Authorities at a Saturday afternoon press briefing identified the suspect as 57-year-old Vance Boelter.

St. Cloud State University spokesperson Zach Dwyer confirmed that Boelter attended SCSU and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor’s of Elective Studies in International Relations. According to Boelter's social media profile, he worked in the Minnesota food industry until starting a security company in 2021.

Boelter was appointed by Gov. Tim Walz and former Gov. Mark Dayton to a state workforce board.

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (3)

Boelter, who police believe could be attempting to "flee the area", escaped on foot from the Hortmans' home.

Brooklyn Park police Chief Mark Bruley said the shooter was reportedly impersonating a police officer in order to gain access to the victims.

“They did drive a vehicle that looked exactly like an SUV, squad car,” Bruley said at the briefing. “It was equipped with lights, emergency lights, that looked exactly like a police vehicle … they were wearing a vest with taser, other equipment that would be a badge, very similar to mine … no question, if they were in this room, you would assume that they are a police officer.”

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (4)

Bruly said the victims were specifically targeted and that officials found a list inside the suspect's vehicle of other lawmakers. The Minnesota State Patrol shared on social media later Saturday morning that flyers saying "No kings" were found inside the suspect's vehicle .

"Given the targeted shootings of state lawmakers overnight, we are asking the public to not attend today’s planned demonstrations across Minnesota out of an abundance of caution," The post from the Patrol said, referencing nationwide "No kings" protests planned to take place Saturday in opposition to President Donald Trump.

Officials urged caution as a suspect has not been apprehended and a large manhunt is ongoing.

“We have 1000s of people sheltered in place in the city of Brooklyn Park,” Bruley said. “Right now, we are in an extensive manhunt involving hundreds and hundreds of police officers and SWAT teams searching.”

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (5)

Bruley said that officers are approaching individuals in pairs and that members of the public should call 911 and not answer their doors if approached by a solitary officer.

Hortman was serving her 11th term in the Minnesota Legislature after originally being elected in 2004, according to her Legislative profile. She and Mark have two children.

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (6)

1/11:Minnesota House DFL Caucus Leader Rep. Melissa Hortman smiles as she answers questions from the media Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at the State Capitol after reaching a power-sharing agreement with Republicans. Ben Hovland / MPR News

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (7)

2/11:Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk of Cook is center of attention as he answers a reporter's question during a Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, Forum News Service-sponsored pre-session briefing. From left are Bakk, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, Gov. Mark Dayton, House Speaker Kurt Daudt and House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman. David Oakes / Minnesota Senate photographer

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (8)

3/11:House Leaders Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, talk about the end of the Minnesota Legislature’s one-day special session on Monday, June 9, 2025. Mary Murphy / Forum News Service

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (9)

4/11:Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt laughs during the Forum News Service-sponsored pre-session briefing on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, in St. Paul. Pictured on the right is House minority leader-elect Melissa Hortman and on the left is Senate majority leader-elect Paul Gazelka. Forum News Service photo by Chad Richardson

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (10)

5/11:House Democrats elected Rep. Melissa Hortman to the position of Minnesota House Speaker Thursday, November 8, in Saint Paul.

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (11)

6/11:House minority leader-elect Melissa Hortman answers a question at the Forum News Service-sponsored pre-session briefing on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, in St. Paul. Pictured from left to right are Senate majority leader-elect Paul Gazelka and House Speaker Kurt Daudt. Forum News Service photo by Chad Richardson

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (12)

7/11:Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, discusses the end of the regular session after final adjournment Monday, May 19, 2025, at the state Capitol in St. Paul. Mary Murphy / Forum News Service

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (13)

8/11:Leader Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park speaks to the press on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, about intentions to not show up for the first day of the Minnesota Legislative session without a power-sharing agreement. Mary Murphy / Forum News Service

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (14)

9/11:Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, discusses the budget deal compromise on undocumented immigrant health care on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the state Capitol in St. Paul, with Gov. Tim Walz beside her. Mary Murphy / Forum News Service

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (15)

10/11:Sen. Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL St. Paul, (Left) and co-Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park (right), speak at Minnesota Management and Budget's November economic forecast on Dec. 4, 2024. Mary Murphy / Forum News Service

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (16)

11/11:Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt laughs during the Forum News Service-sponsored pre-session briefing on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, in St. Paul. Pictured on the right is House minority leader-elect Melissa Hortman. Forum News Service photo by Chad Richardson

“She was a formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota,” Walz said of Hortman at the briefing. “She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many. Minnesota's thoughts and prayers are with her family, her loved ones, her children and her parents.”

Hoffman is serving his fourth term and was first elected in 2014.

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (17)

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.

Updated 6:54 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

Minnesota Rep. Hortman died at the scene, husband at the hospital, medical examiner says (2025)

Suspect named, manhunt ongoing

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