Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (AFP) – Hundreds of law officers set out through a suburb of Minyabolis on Saturday in the pursuit of a man that the authorities say that a police officer fired at the democratic legislator at her home in what Tim Walz called a “political assassination”. The authorities say that the same suspect shot the second legislator.
Former House Speaker Melissa Hortmann and her husband, Mark, were killed at their home in Brooklyn Park. Senator John Hoffman, who is also a democratic, and his wife, Evitt, was injured in the title of Champlin, about nine miles (about 15 km).
The attacks in the early morning that targeted legislators on the northern suburbs of Minneapolis prompted warnings to other elected officials throughout the state and canceling the “Kings” demonstrations planned against President Donald Trump. The authorities say that the suspect has “no kings” leaflets in his car and writings that mention the names of the victims as well as legislators and other officials, although they were unable to say whether he had any other specific goals.
The shootings occurred at a time when political leaders throughout the country were attacked, harassed and intimidated during a period of deep political divisions.
“We must all, in Minnesota and all over the country, stand against all forms of political violence,” Walz, a democratic, told a press conference. “The officials will be responsible.”
Two people familiar with the suspected order were selected as a 57 -year -old Vans Potter. People were unable to discuss the details of the ongoing investigation and talked to the Associated Press, provided that his identity was not disclosed.
The application of the law has regained many AK firearms from the suspect’s vehicle, and it is believed to be still armed with a pistol, and one of the persons familiar with the issue said.
Launching overnight
Police responded to reports of the shooting of Hoffman’s house shortly after 2 am, and the Champlin police found that the legislator and his wife, Evitt, found multiple injuries.
After seeing the victims, the police sent officers to check Hortman’s house, where they faced what appeared to be a police car and a man wearing an officer at the door, and left the house.
“When the officers faced him, the individual immediately shot the officers who exchanged fire, and the suspect retreated to the house,” said Brooklyn Park Police chief.
Multiple bullet holes can be seen in the front door of the Hoffmann house.
President Donald Trump said in a White House statement that the FBI will join the investigation.
“Our public prosecutor, Bam Bondi, and the Federal Investigation Office, are investigating the situation, and they will sue anyone involved to the maximum of the law. It will not be tolerated with such horrific violence in the United States of America. God bless the Great Minnesota, a really great place!”
Two democratic lawmakers targeted
Hortmann, 55, has been the Supreme Democratic Commander in the State Council since 2017. Democrats in the House of Representatives led in a three -week session at the beginning of this year’s session in a struggle for power with the Republicans. According to the Power Participation Agreement, it imitated the clothing to the best Republic, Representative Lisa Demouth, and took the chair president Emerita.
Walzz described it as “a huge government employee, a building and a giant in Minnesota every day, determined to make this country a better place.”
He said, “It is not dispensed with.”
Hortman and her husband had two adult children.
Hoffman, 60, was elected for the first time in 2012 and played a major role as Chairman of the Senate Human Services Committee, which oversees one of the largest parts of the state budget.
Colonel Christina Bogogvic asked people “out of abundance of caution” that none of the “Kings” protests that were scheduled to be held throughout the state were not attended on Saturday. Bogogvic said that the authorities do not have any direct evidence that the protests would target, but they said that the suspect had some “no kings” in their car. The organizers announced that all protests have been canceled throughout the state.
Huge search
Hours after the shooting, hundreds of police officers and an honorable police of departments in the area, some of them in tactical gear with weapons similar to the attack, were spread across the city.
An alert request was sent to the mobile phones of people from the residents to continue the shelter in place as the police were still searching for a “armed and dangerous” suspect.
“The suspect is a white male, brown hair, wearing a black body shield over the blue shirt and blue pants and may distort himself as law enforcement. Do not come close. Call the number 911,” said the alert.
Some road barriers were created in which the authorities stopped and vehicles were examined.
“This is crazy, someone follows the actors. This is a mistake. I hope they will hold them,” said Douglas Thompson, a 62 -year -old Brooklyn Park, adding that he was not worried and believed that the authorities would turn the suspect.
Minnesota House Lisa Demouth, a Republic of Cold Spring, described the attack as “evil” and said she was “sad behind words” due to the killings of Hortmann and her husband Mark.
“With the continuous law enforcement response and the details are still arising, I will ask all Minnesotan to raise the prayer of the victims of this horrific attack, as well as law enforcement employees who are still working to arrest the perpetrators,” Demouth said in a statement.
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Durkin Riccher mentioned Washington. The Associated Press Giovana Delorto in Champlin, Minnesota, and Steve Carnovsky contributed to Minnabolis.