Deutsche Welle

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said that US Democratic politician Melissa Hortman, a former state House Speaker, and her husband were killed in a politically motivated shooting.

"My good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa and her husband, Mark were shot and killed early this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination," Walz announced on Saturday.

A second lawmaker, State senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette were shot and wounded in a separate attack, the governor added.
He said that officials remained "cautiously optimistic" that they would recover.

"This was an act of targeted political violence," Walz said. "Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don`t settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint."

What do we know about the incident
According to Walz, the gunman went to the Hortmans` home after shooting Hoffman and his wife multiple times.

Meanwhile, law enforcement authorities said the gunman was dressed as a police officer. He escaped after exchanging fire with police who went to the Hortmans` home.