By MPR News Staff

Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were fatally shot Saturday morning at their home in Brooklyn Park in what Gov. Tim Walz said “appears to be a politically motivated assassination.”

Brooklyn Park police issued a shelter-in-place order Saturday morning as authorities searched for the suspect. The shelter-in-place order is for a 3-mile radius from Edinburgh USA golf course in Brooklyn Park. The golf course is located just south of the State Highway 610 freeway, and west of State Highway 252.

Police in the alert described the suspect as a white male wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants. He’s considered armed and dangerous — and police said he should not be approached. Anyone who believes they see the suspect should call 911.

“Our state lost a great leader, and I lost the dearest of friends,” Walz said at a news conference just before 10 a.m. “Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a sense of service.”

Walz said another Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmaker, state Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette, were also shot at their home in Champlin. They were out of surgery, Walz said, and “we are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt.”

As of mid-morning, officials were still searching for the suspect in the shootings, who authorities said was impersonating a law enforcement officer.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said officials recovered “a list of individuals, and the individuals that were targeted in this situation were on that list.” Officials did not say who else was on that list, but state Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said “there is increased security in place for elected officials and others who may be at risk.”

“I assure you that those responsible for this will be held accountable, and each and every one of us are committed to making sure that a tragedy like this never repeats itself in Minnesota or across this country,” Walz said, flanked by local and state law enforcement officials.

Hortman was first elected to the state House in 2004, and served as House DFL leader. She previously served as House speaker.

Hoffman was first elected to the state Senate in 2012, and serves as chair of the Senate’s Human Services Committee.

Reaction to shootings

Elected officials across the political spectrum shared condolences in the wake of the news Saturday morning.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said Hortman was a friend, and noted they started in politics at the same time.

“She was a true public servant to the core, dedicating her life to serving Minnesotans with integrity and compassion. Melissa’s legacy will endure, but today we grieve deeply. John’s and my prayers are with their children, their loved ones, and all who are mourning this devastating loss,” Klobuchar wrote.

Republican Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth said she was “shocked and horrified by the evil attack that took place overnight. Please lift up in prayer the victims, as well as the law enforcement personnel working to apprehend the perpetrator.”

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted that she is “closely monitoring developments in Minnesota after what appears to be a targeted attack against state lawmakers. The FBI is on the ground investigating this case alongside state and local partners. This horrific violence will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”