Jun. 15—ROCHESTER — DFL lawmakers representing Rochester and the surrounding area issued a statement Sunday in response to Saturday’s shootings that investigators and Gov. Tim Walz said were politically motivated.
Former DFL Speaker of the House, state Rep. Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were shot and killed in their home; and state Sen. John Hoffman, and Yvette Hoffman, were shot and seriously injured in their home early Saturday morning June 14, 2025.
“We are shocked and heartbroken at the vicious attacks on our colleagues and friends, the tragic loss of Speaker Hortman and Mark Hortman, and the grievous injuries to the Hoffmans,” the statement said. “As we now know, the attacker planned to murder many more, but that plan was derailed by courageous and quick-thinking police officers.”
Brooklyn Park Police briefly confronted the shooting suspect when police went to Hortman’s home after learning of the shooting a few minutes early at Sen. John Hoffman’s home in nearby Champlin.
The statement, issued by Rep. Tina Liebling, Rep. Kim Hicks, and Rep. Andy Smith and Sen. Liz Boldon, continues:
“These attacks are the work of one person, and yet our country is increasingly torn apart by violent political threats that threaten our system of government and our nation’s future. Public service demands sacrifice, but it should never demand the sacrifice of one’s life or safety — and certainly not the safety of one’s family.”
The Rochester-area legislators called on everyone to reject political violence and condemned the political rhetoric and actions that “give invitation and permission for violence.”
That includes the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, the statement said.
“We call on everyone to join us in condemning the pardoning of criminals who violently attacked the US Capitol and capitol police on January 6, the pardoning of other convicted and unrepentant violent criminals, and the naked calls for retribution against political opponents.”
The legislators also expressed gratitude to local and state law enforcement who responded to the incident and to community members who have reached out to them following the shootings.
“We are deeply grateful to the state and local law enforcement community who have responded with diligence, courage, and compassion, and to members of our community who have reached out to us with concern and sympathy,” the statement read.
Rochester Mayor Kim Norton also released a statement on social media about the loss of her former Capitol colleague of 10 years.
“Melissa was truly a great and caring leader,” Norton wrote. “She was largely responsible for (Minnesota) being one of the nation’s leaders in climate change and so much more.”
Norton also decried violent political rhetoric and that political disagreement shouldn’t result in violence.
“We can agree to disagree, agreeably,” Norton wrote. “We can stay silent or protest — we do not resort to violence or murder.”
Hortman stepped up to be speaker of the Minnesota House during a difficult time and led with dignity but would call out people when necessary, Norton wrote.
“We lost a true public servant and I lost a friend,” Norton’s statement said.