Who is John Hoffman? Family details explored as Minnesota lawmaker and spouse shot

Two Minnesota lawmakers were shot in their homes early Saturday morning.

One of them was State Senator John Hoffman. As per the reports by The Daily Beast, John and his wife were shot when someone pretending to be a police officer opened fire. The other lawmaker, Representative Melissa Hortman, and her husband were killed. Authorities say the shootings were likely planned and carried out against these public servants.

According to Fox 9, at about 2 AM on Saturday, police responded to shootings at two homes. One was Senator Hoffman's home in Champlin. The other was Representative Hortman’s home in Brooklyn Park, just a few miles apart. Law enforcement issued a shelter‑in‑place alert in Brooklyn Park while they searched for a suspect described as a white man wearing a police‑style uniform and body armor.

Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, called the shootings “an act of targeted political violence” and said he is "cautiously optimistic" that the Hoffmans will recover. As per the Washington Post, he also described the deaths of Representative Hortman and her husband as a “politically motivated assassination”.

John Hoffman's family and career background

60-year-old John Hoffman was first elected senator in 2012, when he won the election for Minnesota District 34. Earlier, he used to work in marketing, public relations, and credit counseling. He also served on the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council for children.

John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, have a daughter named Hope. The family lives in Champlin, not far from Minneapolis. Hoffman has focused on helping people with health care needs and disabilities in the Senate. He chairs the Human Services Committee and works on bills for health care, energy, environment, and education.

What happened in the shootings involving John Hoffman?

At about 2 AM, police were called to Senator John Hoffman's home in Champlin. Hoffman and his wife were found injured. They were taken to a hospital. As per the reports by NY TV, they were shot multiple times.

Officers then went to Representative Hortman’s home in Brooklyn Park. There, a man wearing a fake police uniform tried to lure them inside. He shot and killed Hortman and her husband. The suspect also fired at responding officers, who returned fire before he escaped.

Per The Washington Post, the suspect used a vehicle that looked like a police car. Inside, authorities found a manifesto with a list of names, including Hoffman and Hortman. Investigators say the act was planned and aimed at the lawmakers.

The reports by Fox 9 state that the officials described the suspect as a white man with brown hair, wearing black body armor over a blue outfit. Police have advised people not to open their doors and to call 911 to verify any strange visit. A shelter‑in‑place alert was in effect early Saturday in Brooklyn Park, covering a three‑mile radius around a golf course while authorities searched.

Next steps and public response

Governor Walz called it an “unspeakable tragedy” and said that those responsible will face justice. US Senator Amy Klobuchar said she was “heartbroken and horrified” by the shootings. Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords also spoke out, calling it an attack on democracy and a reminder of rising political violence.

Police say the FBI and other agencies are involved in the search. Residents in Champlin and Brooklyn Park are on alert. At the time of writing, Senator John Hoffman's family is recovering.

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