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Minnesota lawmaker who survived taking pictures shares chilling account of focused assault



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Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse have revealed that they had been shot a mixed 17 occasions by the masked gunman who then “assassinated” one other state lawmaker and her husband.

Hoffman was dwelling along with his spouse, Yvette, and their daughter Hope after a Democratic fundraising dinner after they had been “woke up by the sounds of pounding on the entrance door and shouts of somebody looking for entry, figuring out himself as a police officer” round 2 a.m. Saturday, they advised KARE 11.

They opened the door to discover a man pointing a gun at them.

Minn. state Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse had been each shot a number of occasions at their dwelling on June 14. Minnesota Senate HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Minnesota Democratic lawmakers Rep. Melissa Hortman and Sen. John Hoffman collectively in 2018. MelissaHortman/Fb

“All three of us had been within the entryway. John initially lunged on the gunman because the weapon was pointed straight at him, getting struck 9 occasions,” the Hoffmans mentioned.

“As John fell, Yvette reached out to push the person and shut the door, succeeding earlier than she was additionally hit eight occasions by gunfire,” the assertion mentioned.

Suspected killer Vance Boelter allegedly knocked on the lawmakers’ doorways with a masks on posing as a police officer. FBI

Their daughter, Hope, slammed and locked the door and instantly referred to as 911, they mentioned.

Boelter, 57, fled the scene. He made the brief drive to Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman’s Brooklyn Park dwelling, the place he shot and killed her, her husband and the household canine, in accordance with police.

Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and his spouse Yvette. They had been each shot and injured. John Hoffman/Fb

“We’re heartbroken to know that our buddies Melissa and Mark Hortman had been assassinated,” the Hoffmans mentioned — including that their daughter, Hope, and the Hortmans’ daughter, Sophie, each went to high school collectively.

The Hoffmans are nonetheless recovering from their wounds after present process surgical procedure. John is in a crucial however steady situation, whereas his spouse is in a steady situation, the assertion mentioned.

Vance was arrested following the most important manhunt in Minnesota historical past, police mentioned. Ramsey County Sheriff’s Workplace
Former Meeting speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, had been each murdered. by way of REUTERS

Boelter was arrested roughly 43 hours after the shootings following the most important manhunt in state historical past.


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The shootings are believed to be politically motivated. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz described the shootings as “focused political violence.”

The gunman had an extended hit listing with 70 names of targets, which had been largely Democrats or figures with ties to Deliberate Parenthood or abortion rights, police mentioned.

Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman (far proper) pictured together with her husband Mark Hortman (far left), household, and pet golden retriever Gilbert. Fb/Speaker Emerita of the Home Melissa Hortman

The Hoffmans acknowledged that they’ve surrendered their privateness so as John to function a public official, however mentioned they don’t seem to be “grappling with the fact that we dwell in a world the place public service carries such dangers as being focused as a result of somebody disagrees with you.”

“As a society, as a nation, as a neighborhood, we should work collectively to return to a stage of civility that enables us all to dwell peacefully,” they mentioned.

Boelter stays in federal custody on homicide expenses.