Melissa Hortman was shot and killed in a politically motivated assassination at her home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on June 14, 2025. The attacker, Vance Luther Boelter, impersonated a police officer by wearing a realistic silicone mask, a full police uniform, and body armor. He targeted Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, who was also killed in the attack. The shooter was reportedly driven by political motives and had a list of about 70 potential targets, including abortion providers, pro-abortion rights advocates, and lawmakers. This attack was part of a broader plan because the shooter also targeted another Minnesota state senator, John Hoffman, and his wife, who survived the shootings. The incident was described by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as "an act of targeted political violence" and a "political assassination." The attacker escaped on foot after exchanging gunfire with the police but was later apprehended. The motive involved politically charged hatred and conspiracy-driven beliefs, as the assailant left a letter blaming political figures and included conspiratorial content.
In summary, Melissa Hortman was shot because she was targeted in a politically motivated assassination attempt linked to broader political violence with the intent to harm multiple officials and activists.
