Officers canvas the neighborhood after what police said was a targeted shooting in the area around Edinburgh Golf Course in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, June 14, 2025.
Ellen Schmidt/Reuters
The gunman responsible for Saturday’s deadly attacks on Minnesota lawmakers had compiled a hit list of Democratic officials, including high-profile leaders such as Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, according to law enforcement sources.
List Recovered from Suspect’s Police-Style Vehicle
Authorities discovered the list inside a vehicle disguised to look like a police cruiser parked in the driveway of Rep. Melissa Hortman’s home, where she and her husband, Mark, were found fatally shot. The same list also included State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who were both shot hours earlier at their home in Champlin.
Potential Motive: Anti-Abortion Extremism
Sources told ABC News the suspect may have been motivated by extreme anti-abortion views. Officials are still investigating the gunman’s background and ideology.
High-Ranking Democrats Among Intended Targets
Along with Walz and Omar, others named on the suspect’s list include U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Hortman, the former Speaker of the Minnesota House, and Hoffman, who chairs the Senate’s Human Services Committee, were the most immediate targets.
Security Tightened Amid Ongoing Manhunt
Authorities have increased protection for those named on the list. Capitol Police stated they are coordinating efforts with federal, state, and local agencies. Meanwhile, a manhunt is underway for the suspect, who fled on foot after exchanging gunfire with police outside Hortman’s home around 3:35 a.m.
Governor Condemns Political Violence
Gov. Walz, speaking at a news conference, called the attacks “a politically-motivated assassination attempt” and urged unity. “We are not a country that settles our differences at gunpoint,” he said. “We must stand united against all forms of violence.”
Brooklyn Park Remains Under Shelter-in-Place Order
With the suspect still at large, Brooklyn Park officials have issued a shelter-in-place order. Law enforcement continues to search the area and has warned residents not to open their doors to any individual officer unless confirmed through 911.
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