Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Sen. John Hoffman Were Shot by Gunman Impersonating a Police Officer
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, issued the following statements after Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Sen. John Hoffman were shot by a gunman impersonating a police officer. According to early reports, the shootings took place in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, their conditions remain unknown. A shelter in place order is in effect to find the suspect.
“Our hearts are shattered and we stand with Speaker Emerita Hortman and Senator Hoffman’s family at this time,” said Kathleen Anderson, a volunteer with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Political violence has no place in a healthy democracy and we are horrified by this heinous act of gun violence. For far too long, our country has treated gun violence as inevitable — while our communities continue to pay the price. We refuse to accept this any longer.”
“This was clearly a targeted and heartbreaking attack—not just on two incredible leaders, but on the values we all believe in,” said Timberlyn Mazeikis, leader of the University of Minnesota chapter of Students Demand Action. “We’re keeping them, their families, and their communities in our hearts, and we’re urging our state leaders to do everything in their power to ensure a tragedy like this and so many others never happens again. Our democracy, and our lives, depend on it.”
Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman’s leadership was instrumental in passing common-sense gun safety policies. Thanks to her work, Minnesota has had recent success in passing gun safety policies, including laws requiring background checks for all gun sales, an Extreme Risk law, and multi-million dollar investments in Community Violence Intervention programs.
Senator John Hoffman has been a strong leader for gun safety in Minnesota – supporting major legislation to expand background checks, Extreme Risk Laws and rejecting extremist policies that sought to expand Shoot First laws.
More information about gun violence in Minnesota is available here.