State Senator John Hoffman and State Representative Melissa Hortman were identified by local media as the two US lawmakers who were shot along with their respective spouses on Saturday by an unknown man impersonating a police officer in Minnesota.

Hortman and her husband died of their wounds, according to Reuters.

Walz said that the gunman went to the Hortmans' residence after shooting Senator John Hoffman and his wife multiple times in their home in the nearby town of Champlin.

They underwent surgery, Walz said, adding that he was "cautiously optimistic" that they would survive "this assassination attempt."

Both members of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party were shot in their separate homes, according to the Guardian.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz confirmed that in response to the shootings, he has "activated the State Emergency Operations Center.

"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."

Amy Klobuchar, one of Minnesota's US senators, confirmed the identities of the victims of the "stunning act of violence" in a post on X, saying her prayers "are with the Hortman and Hoffman families. Both legislators are close friends and devoted to their families and public service."

President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the "terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears to be a targeted attack against State Lawmakers."

US President Donald Trump (R) stands with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he prepares to depart for Hagerstown, Maryland, at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, US, June 8, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Nathan Howard)
US President Donald Trump (R) stands with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he prepares to depart for Hagerstown, Maryland, at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, US, June 8, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Nathan Howard)
"Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!" he said in a statement.

Suspect escapes arrest

The Brooklyn Park Police Department issued a shelter-in-place alert for an area surrounding the Edinburgh Golf Course. The suspect is believed to be presenting himself as law enforcement, according to NBC affiliate KARE 11.

The suspect later escaped after exchanging gunfire with police, a public official told Reuters.

After the suspect escaped, local police uncovered a manifesto in his car which outlined his plans to target US officials.

The suspect, who was wearing a vest with a taser, other police equipment and a badge, is believed to have fled from the rear of the home, he said. The Hortmans and Hoffmans were on the list of names found in the suspect's car, officials said.

Recent political violence in the US has occurred in so-called battleground states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania.

This is a developing story.