Overview
- One year ago a gunman killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and their dog at their Brooklyn Park home and wounded State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in related attacks.
- The suspect, Vance Boelter, pleaded guilty in federal court this week to charges tied to the shootings and is expected to receive life sentences at sentencing that remains pending.
- On Sunday lawmakers, governors, members of Congress and local officials paid tribute to the Hortmans, used public statements to condemn political violence, and urged a cooling of political rhetoric.
- Neighbors in Brooklyn Park held candlelight remembrances, left signs and gathered informally near the couple’s house while local police increased patrols around the anniversary.
- Lawmakers say the killings changed how they think about safety at home and in public and the case could prompt further security measures at the Capitol and for individual elected officials as sentencing proceeds.