<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A Democratic state representative and her husband have been shot and killed in "what appears to be a politically motivated assassination", Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said.</span><br/><br/><span>Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were both killed in the attack in their home early on Saturday morning (Sunday AEST).</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also targeted by the same individual and each shot multiple times, Walz said. They have undergone surgery and are alive.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/israel-iran-strikes-israel-launch-fresh-wave-of-strikes/7b3d625a-2634-401f-8d1c-4f4736b76115" rel="" target="_blank" title="Israel threatens more attacks on Iran after Tehran's deadly retaliatory strikes"><strong><span>Israel threatens more attacks on Iran after Tehran's deadly retaliatory strikes</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Hoffmans are out of surgery at this time and receiving care, and we are cautiously optimally optimistic, they will survive this assassination attempt," the governor said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both legislators are members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The suspect is at large and a massive manhunt is underway, officials said at the news conference.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a very large scale search," Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. "We have detained several people and questioned them, but we do not have anybody in custody at this time."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/minnesota-state-lawmaker-killed-in-politically-motivated-assassination-massive/a6523c62-4777-4ff3-9737-855b3b4beb0f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Law enforcement was first called around 2am local time on Saturday with reports that someone had shot Hoffman and his wife.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police responded to their home and provided life-saving measures before the couple was transported to the hospital, according to Drew Evans, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension superintendent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-electricity-price-increase-locked-in-one-state-to-be-hit-hardest/8d41ef42-af6b-4b13-a992-8b3190be5e8f" rel="" target="_blank" title="One state to be hardest hit in 'suckerpunch' electricity price increase"><strong><span>One state to be hardest hit in 'suckerpunch' electricity price increase</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At 3.35am, another call came in when officers were proactively checking on Hortman's home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When Brooklyn Park police officers arrived they noticed that there was a police vehicle in the driveway with emergency lights on and what appeared to be a police officer at the door, coming out of the house, officials said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That individual immediately fired a weapon at them, Evans said, and exchanged gunfire took place during which the suspect was able to escape.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Brooklyn Park Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Patrol and FBI, and BCA are now actively engaged in a manhunt for the suspect they believe is responsible for both shootings, Evans said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Authorities are searching for a male wearing a vest with Taser, a badge and other equipment similar to that of a police officer, according to Bruley. The suspect is on foot.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If somebody comes to the door and they knock on the door claiming to be a police officer, please do a couple things: one, call 911 and confirm that the officer belongs there. If they are a police officer, dispatch will be able to confirm that that person is police officer," Bruley said, addressing the community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/air-india-plane-crash-updates-death-toll-climbs-search-teams-find-more-bodies/2c4af903-a717-4a72-9b46-8e43d8958517" rel="" target="_blank" title="Death toll in Indian plane crash climbs to 270 as search teams find more bodies"><strong><span>Death toll in Indian plane crash climbs to 270 as search teams find more bodies</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Also, we informed all our officers in Brooklyn Park that they are not to approach anybody by themselves. They're approaching pairs, meaning two officers."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Walz has activated the State Emergency Operations Centre and a cross-jurisdictional Joint Information Centre has been established as the manhunt continues, according to the governor's spokesman Teddy Tschann.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Local law enforcement in Champlin and Brooklyn Park have the full resources of the State of Minnesota behind them. We are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information soon," Walz said in a </span><a href="https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1933874687018254548" rel="" target="" title=""><span>post on X</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Brooklyn Park Police Department issued a shelter-in-place order for an area surrounding Edinburgh Golf Course on Saturday morning, according to the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16dFve6ZnE/"><span>City of Brooklyn Park</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The governor said the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement were on the scene.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a stunning act of violence. I'm thankful for all the law enforcement who are responding in real time," US Senator Klobuchar said in a post on X.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families. Both legislators are close friends and devoted to their families and public service."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, now the head of national gun violence prevention organization </span><a href="https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fgiffords.org/1/010001976ebd5822-e2cb71d3-d243-481f-82ad-7c251c9449ef-000000/ghgsKIzwTx2dqFWASVkGbjxTCgY=430"><span>GIFFORDS</span></a><span>, said in a statement on Saturday that she was "horrified and heartbroken by last night's attack on two patriotic public servants."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My family and I know the horror of a targeted shooting all too well. An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself," Giffords said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Leaders must speak out and condemn the fomenting violent extremism that threatens everything this country stands for.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Giffords was one of 13 people wounded in an </span><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/18/health/gabby-giffords-aphasia-essay"><span>Arizona supermarket parking lot</span></a><span> in 2011.</span></div></div>