It is shortly after three in the morning when the silence in quiet Brooklyn Park, a suburb of Minneapolis, is shattered by gunfire. Just minutes later, two homes in two neighboring communities become the focus of a large-scale manhunt - a reportedly politically motivated murder of Democratic lawmakers is shaking not only Minnesota but the entire country.
Democratic Representative Melissa Hortman, former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, was shot dead together with her husband Mark in their own home. Only shortly before, Democratic Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife Yvette had been severely wounded by multiple gunshots in their residence in Champlin. Both survived - so far.
Police are calling it targeted political violence. The perpetrator is said to have posed as a police officer and used a vehicle that looked deceptively real. Investigators found a “hit list” in his car with nearly 70 names - including abortion providers, pro-choice activists, progressive lawmakers - and the two targeted legislators.
In a manifesto found in the suspect’s possession, the attacker reportedly outlines a broad series of attacks against individuals he considered enemies of a “true American order.” The language used - including “No Kings,” the slogan of today’s nationwide anti-Trump protests - leaves no doubt about the ideological motivation. It is about the violent fight against democracy and equality.
Authorities are warning of further threats. The anti-Trump protests across the country should be avoided “out of an abundance of caution,” stated Colonel Christina Bogojevic of the Minnesota State Patrol. The FBI is also involved in the massive manhunt. The suspected perpetrator managed to escape during a shootout with police and is described as armed, dangerous, and possibly still disguised as a police officer.
According to consistent media reports, the suspected perpetrator is believed to be Vance L. B. - a former advisor to the governor who was appointed to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board by Tim Walz in 2019. Out of journalistic responsibility and because an official confirmation by investigators is still pending, we are deliberately withholding the full name.
Political reactions have been intense. Governor Tim Walz called it “a targeted attack on democracy” and urged the public to “stand against political violence with every means possible.”
Senator Amy Klobuchar, a close friend of the slain Melissa Hortman, wrote on social media: “We started together. I can hardly put into words what this loss means.”
Minnesota is in shock. And even though the motive seems clear, one central question remains: How did it come to this? An assassin posing as an officer, equipped with body armor, a taser, a police badge, and even a service vehicle - and carrying a list of nearly 70 names. It is a scenario that, even in a country accustomed to political violence, seems barely comprehensible.
Federal and state authorities are working at full speed to capture the suspect. Shelter-in-place orders remain in effect in several counties. The suspect could strike again at any time.
What remains is a painful warning - that words have long since become weapons, and political power these days is often negotiated at the barrel of a gun.
English 
German 
