USA | Politician murder in the USA: perpetrator had list of names

Washington. Following the fatal shooting in the US state of Minnesota, a large-scale manhunt is underway to find the perpetrator. At the same time, a debate about politically motivated violence in the US has flared up again. "It's terrible that public servants have to worry about their personal safety in such a real and frightening way," said Tina Smith, the Democratic US Senator for Minnesota, in an interview with NPR.

Early Saturday morning (local time), a gunman killed a Democratic state legislator, Melissa Hortman, and her husband, Mark, in their home in Brooklyn Park. In another attack in nearby Champlin, a Democratic state senator, John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, were also shot and seriously injured. Authorities believe the attacks were politically motivated. There are concerns that other people may be in danger.

List of names of officials

Smith is one of several public officials on a list that law enforcement officers found in the suspected perpetrator's vehicle, along with a large amount of ammunition and a Father's Day greeting card. According to CNN, the list included politicians from Minnesota and other states, as well as abortion rights advocates. Authorities therefore believe that other people may be at risk.

Knowing this certainly bothered her, said Senator Smith. She had seen her fellow party members Hortman and Hoffman at a dinner just hours before the attacks. "It's just hard to believe that this happened last night."

Several other politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, expressed similar sentiments. US President Donald Trump strongly condemned the attack in Minnesota, calling it a "targeted attack on public servants." He announced that all those involved would be prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law." His Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, called for unity against politically motivated violence on Platform X. He stated that hatred and extremism should have no place in the United States.

57-year-old suspect not yet arrested

The perpetrator was still on the run late Saturday evening (local time). The suspect is a 57-year-old man who, according to US media research, works for a private security company. The company's website states that he has served in crisis regions such as the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Lebanon and has also been trained by members of the US military. The public has been asked for assistance in the manhunt. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $50,000 (approximately €43,370) for information.

Police had taken action following the attack on the Hoffman couple and, as a precaution, searched the Hortmans' home. There, officers encountered a man in a police uniform who was pretending to be an officer. A car with flashing blue lights was parked in the driveway. When the officers confronted the man, he opened fire, and a gunfire ensued. According to authorities, the suspect fled into the house and then from the scene. Inside, officers found Hortman and her husband.

Not the first attack on politicians in the USA

The incident is one of several politically motivated acts of violence in the United States in recent years. Threats against politicians have long been a common occurrence. Officials and experts repeatedly warn of increasing radicalization in parts of society, fueled by online hate speech and aggressive rhetoric.

At the end of 2022, for example, the husband of Democratic U.S. leader Nancy Pelosi was seriously injured in a hammer attack. Just a few months ago, the residence of Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was set on fire – according to investigators, for political reasons. Last year, Trump – then a Republican presidential candidate – was injured in the ear in an assassination attempt with a gun. He himself repeatedly used some radical language during the election campaign. dpa/nd