State Representative Killed, State Senator Injured in Minneapolis Shooting

By Amelia Davidson | MINNEAPOLIS – 2025/06/16 13:50:48

A survivor of Saturday’s deadly attacks on two Minnesota lawmakers says she and her husband are both “incredibly lucky to be alive” after they were hit by 17 bullets.

Yvette Hoffman / Facebook

State senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot at their home early Saturday morning, but survived.Melissa Hortman – the top Democratic legislator in the state House – and her husband, Mark, were killed.

Yvette Hoffman said in a statement that she and her husband John were “devastated” by the Hortmans’ deaths.

Police are hunting for the suspect,Vance Luther Boelter,who wore a latex mask and posed as an officer to shoot the victims at their homes in suburban Minneapolis,before escaping on foot.

Mrs Hoffman’s statement was shared on Instagram by Minnesota senator amy Klobuchar.

“john is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,” Mrs Hoffman wrote.

“He took 9 bullet hits.I took 8 and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive.”

“We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark. We have no words. There is never a place for this kind of political hate.”

“We are gutted and devastated by the loss of melissa and Mark. We have no words. There is never a place for this kind of political hate.”

Police have not disclosed the killer’s motive.

A Facebook post from someone identifying as Mrs Hoffman’s nephew said she had thrown herself on her daughter during the assassination attempt, “using her body as a shield to save her life”.

According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, the daughter, Hope, is in her 20s and was born with spina bifida, which her father previously cited as motivating him to get into state politics.

Taha Abuisnaineh,who lives across the street,said he and his wife had known the family for more than 20 years.

“They were very nice neighbours in a very quiet neighbourhood,” he told the . “You don’t see police activity in this neighbourhood. We are very shocked.”

Two other nearby residents who did not want to be named said the suburban community was reeling.

“My next-door neighbor heard the shots,” said one. “We’ve all been texting back and forth.”

She and her husband described how they received an annual Christmas card from the Hortmans.

“What a big loss for Minnesota,” she said.

In sibley County, where the suspect’s car was found, local resident Brian Liebhard also told the . of his shock.

“This guy needs to get caught,” he said. “I don’t agree with everything they [the two politicians] vote for, but this is sad – the guy went wacko.”