Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Couple to be joined by golden retriever Gilbert, who also died in shooting

 

By Dana Ferguson

The late Minnesota House DFL leader Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark will lie in state at the Capitol on Friday.

Private funeral services are set to follow on Saturday. The Hortmans were killed in their home earlier this month in an alleged political assassination.

Gov. Tim Walz announced Tuesday that members of the public will be able to pay their respects to the Hortmans in the Capitol rotunda between noon and 5 p.m. on Friday. The Hortmans will be joined by their golden retriever Gilbert, who was also fatally shot.

Melissa Hortman will be the first woman to lie in state in Minnesota — as well as the first lawmaker to lie in state after solely serving in the state House. Fewer than 20 former governors, senators and others have also been accorded the honor following their passing.

Vance Boelter faces state and federal charges for allegedly killing the Hortmans, as well as shooting and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. The Hoffmans are recovering from their injuries.

Law enforcement officials said Boelter went to the homes of two other state lawmakers on the morning of June 14, and had a list of dozens of other elected officials in his vehicle.