Melissa Hortman, former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, was tragically assassinated on June 14, 2025. She and her husband Mark were fatally shot in their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, in an attack described as politically motivated. The suspected shooter, Vance Luther Boelter, disguised as a police officer, also injured another Democratic state senator and his wife in a related attack earlier that day. This incident led to the most extensive manhunt in Minnesota history. Hortman was recognized as a dedicated public servant who advocated for various progressive policies and was deeply mourned by the community and political leaders. The attacker was later captured and federally charged with the murders and related crimes. Hortman, her husband, and their dog were laid in state at the Minnesota Capitol, marking a historic honor for her as the first woman to receive such recognition.