Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case said he was still processing the early Saturday morning shootings that left Minnesota House Democratic leader Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark dead, and Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette seriously wounded in separate attacks in the northwest suburbs.
Authorities say 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter impersonated a police officer and carried out the attacks. He allegedly targeted the lawmakers in their homes.
Case said Eden Prairie city officials and legislators knew Hortman well – especially Reps. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn and Alex Falconer.
“But Carlie was herself, I believe, very close to Melissa, because they would campaign together and they worked on the same bills,” Case said in a Saturday afternoon phone interview. “So just knowing that we lost someone that we count as a friend, I think everyone’s still a bit in a state of shock.”
Case added that he and Hortman, a Democrat, had both attended the DFL’s annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner the night before the shooting. Hoffman is also a Democrat.
“I didn’t talk to Melissa last night, but we were at the same large gathering,” he said. “A couple thousand Democrats were there. The governor spoke. Both senators, Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, spoke. Melissa Hortman was mentioned and thanked along with other DFL legislators.”
He said Eden Prairie police increased patrols near the homes of the city’s three state legislators – Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-49B), Falconer (DFL-49A), and Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-49) – following the attacks.
“It’s public that all legislators across the state – within their local jurisdictions – were offered protection, or at least their local police departments were notified to offer it, to the extent it was needed,” Case said. “So here in Eden Prairie, we definitely had police officers either parked out front or patrolling in front of our three legislators’ homes.”
Case said the violence had sparked broader questions among local leaders about the safety and sustainability of public service.
“I just think it’s one more example that many of us are fearful for our democracy,” he said. “What is this coming to if elected officials are not safe to be who they were elected to be and represent the people they represent, without fear of personal harm to their lives or their families? And people won’t go into this. That’s the very core – the very center – of our democracy: to have volunteers step forward to run for these offices.”
In a statement released by the city Saturday, Case called the shootings an attack “on the very heart of our democratic values.” His full statement appears below.
Statement from Mayor Ron Case regarding targeted shootings
On behalf of the Eden Prairie community, it is with profound sadness and deep sorrow that I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, for their tragic and senseless murders, and the family of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who are fighting for their lives, after being shot in their homes this morning.
This was an attack not only on beloved members of our state, but on the very heart of our democratic values and the community we strive to build alongside one another – one grounded in safety and service.
While the shooter remains at-large, we are deeply grateful to those who are risking their own safety to protect ours.
Violence has no place in our communities, and we will do everything in our power to foster peace and unity in this difficult time.
Mayor Ron Case
Suspect still sought
As of Saturday evening, Boelter remained at large, with a $50,000 FBI reward offered for information leading to his arrest.
Authorities say he exchanged gunfire with officers before fleeing on foot from the scene in Brooklyn Park. In his abandoned vehicle, investigators recovered a manifesto and a list of approximately 70 names – reportedly including elected officials, abortion providers, and pro-choice advocates in Minnesota and other states.
The attacks appear to be politically motivated, based on the writings and target list, according to law enforcement officials cited by Reuters and other media outlets.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed a political affiliation or ideology for the suspect, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Protesters gather despite safety concerns
Although the “No Kings” protest in Minnetonka was officially canceled due to safety concerns, a large crowd still gathered – filling all four corners of the Highway 7 and 101 intersection as drivers honked in support. Protesters waved flags, held signs and stood in defiance of the morning’s deadly attacks on Minnesota lawmakers.
Karl Bunday, who organized the protest under the joint banner of Indivisible Minnesota 03 and Indivisible West Metro, said he agreed to cancel only after national Indivisible leaders urged local chapters to stand down. Still, he showed up to inform those who hadn’t heard – and found the rally moving forward anyway.
“The impression I got was that it would have taken all the police manpower that was devoted to finding this killer just to keep the Minnetonka people from showing up,” Bunday said.
Attendees described a shared sense of grief and resilience.
“We’re not afraid,” said Bunday’s wife, Grace, who joins her husband and others at the corner each Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. “We’re here every Wednesday, right here. Maybe there’s a little more concern today, but that just makes it more important that we show up.”
“To me, if people are doing things like this to stop us, it’s all the more reason to be here,” said Mary, who lives in Mound. “The State Patrol didn’t want us out today, and I understand they needed resources elsewhere. But I still felt we needed to be present. More than ever.”
Barbara, a visitor from Phoenix, said she came to “stand here for more people. This is about showing up.”
Penny, attending her first protest with her dog Olivia, said she had second thoughts at first. “I was a little scared to come out today – especially after hearing they canceled it – but then I thought, no. Now more than ever, we have to be here. I was late because I hesitated. But I’m so glad I came.”
Derek, from Plymouth, estimated the crowd at “a couple thousand, maybe,” stretching across multiple corners. “What happened today is horrible,” he said. “But there are always going to be people like that out there. That doesn’t mean we stay home.”
Minnetonka resident Carrie Saughter said, “The bedrock of democracy is being able to nonviolently work out any sort of issues that we all have. … I will not be silenced by a terrorist. So here I am.”
Editor’s note: This article includes reporting from Reuters and Jeff Strate, a contributor to Eden Prairie Local News.
Read more about Melissa Hortman’s political legacy in MinnPost’s profile of her final weeks at the Capitol, written by state government reporter Matthew Blake.
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