Minnesota shootings live: Police find ‘manifesto’ in suspect’s car and make chilling ‘anti-Trump’ discovery

Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said the gunman’s vehicle, which bore a close resemblance to a police squad car, contained a ‘manifesto’ and a target list with names of individuals, including the two lawmakers who were shot.

Yvette Hoffman’s nephew told CNN that she saved her daughter’s life during the shooting.

The Hoffmans’ daughter, who is in her mid-20s, was home with her parents when the tragedy unfolded.

According to her nephew, Yvette threw herself on top of her daughter, shielding her from the gunfire and ultimately saving her from injury.

Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, are both out of surgery and stable, Yvette’s nephew told CNN.

The family were told that the bullet ‘very nearly missed’ the senator’s heart, while Yvette reportedly had ‘no organs pierced’.

‘The family says they are very hopeful right now, and that they’re getting positive messages coming out of the hospital regarding Senator Hoffman and his wife,’ KARE reporter A.J. Lagoe reported after speaking with the nephew.

Demonstrators are showing up to the ‘No Kings’ rally in St. Paul, despite warnings from state officials to remain indoors until the gunman is apprehended, as reported by The New York Times.

A big crowd has reportedly gathered outside the State Capitol, many carrying American flags and signs reading ‘No Kings’.

Several speakers at the event paid tribute to State Rep. Hortman, prompting cheers from the crowd.

Authorities previously shared an image on social media showing flyers for the ‘NO KINGS’ rallies planned to coincide with Donald Trump’s birthday parade, which they said they found in a vehicle believed to be linked to the shootings.

Organizers of the rally had announced a state-wide cancellation after news of the tragedy broke.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced that he had planned to attend the anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rally in St. Paul on Saturday during an appearance at the Center for American Progress in Washington on Friday.

‘The world is on fire under his watch,’ Walz said, as reported by The New York Times.

At a press conference on Saturday morning, the Minnesota State Patrol urged people in the state not to attend planned anti-Trump protests until the suspect or suspects in the shooting are apprehended, fearing the demonstrations could be targeted.

Now, all ‘No Kings’ protests against the Trump Administration scheduled for today have been cancelled state-wide, according to a statement provided by organizers.

Former President Joe Biden has broken his silence on the Saturday morning tragedy in Minnesota, sharing a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

‘This heinous attack motivated by politics should never happen in America,’ Biden said.

‘We must give hate and extremism no safe harbor and we must all unite against political violence as a nation,’ he added.

‘Jill and I are sending strength to everyone affected by this senseless tragedy during an unimaginable time.’

Efforts to locate the suspect are intensifying in the suburban neighborhood, as law enforcement and SWAT teams continue to swarm the area.

All vehicles are being stopped before leaving the subdivision where Hortman and her husband were killed, with authorities inspecting each car before allowing it to proceed, as reported by The New York Times.

A heavy presence of law enforcement remains in the area, with armored vehicles patrolling the streets as residents cautiously peer out their windows at the ongoing commotion.

In Edinbrook Park – typically a popular weekend recreation spot in Brooklyn Park – has been transformed into a staging area for law enforcement.

Officers in full tactical gear have gathered around a mobile command unit, with three armored SWAT vehicles positioned at the scene.

Officials said the individual seen exiting the Hortmans’ home was dressed as a police officer, wearing a vest and badge, and carrying a taser along with other law enforcement equipment, as reported by ABC 7 News.

Police are stopping and inspecting all vehicles leaving the subdivision where Hortman and her husband were killed. A strong law enforcement presence remains, with armored vehicles patrolling the area.

The lawmakers shot Saturday morning in Minnesota were State Representative Melissa Hortman, the former Speaker of the House, and State Senator John Hoffman, both veteran Democrats.

Hortman was a lawyer and legislator for about 20 years. She served as House Speaker from 2019 to 2025, representing a solidly Democratic district where she won re-election by wide margins.

She played a central role in passing major legislation in 2023, including expanding abortion rights, legalizing recreational marijuana and mandating paid family and medical leave.

In 2024, amid a deadlocked House, Hortman led a Democratic boycott during a dispute over chamber control. Once election challenges were resolved, she allowed Republican Lisa Demuth to assume the speakership.

She is survived by her two children. Her husband, Mark, was also killed in the Saturday attack.

Senator Hoffman, 60, has served in the Legislature since 2013 and previously sat on the Anoka-Hennepin School Board.

He chairs the Senate Human Services Committee and has focused on disability rights and fiscal responsibility.

He lives in Champlin with his wife, Yvette, and their daughter. Following the attack, Hoffaman and his wife underwent surgery and are expected to survive, according to Governor Tim Walz.

Hoffman, a former marketing and PR professional, emphasizes bipartisan cooperation and won re-election by 10 points.

At a press conference on Saturday morning, the Minnesota State Patrol urged people in the state not to attend planned anti-Trump protests until the suspect or suspects in the shooting are apprehended, fearing the demonstrations could be targeted.

Authorities shared an image on social media showing flyers for the ‘NO KINGS’ rallies planned to coincide with Donald Trump’s birthday parade, which they said they found in a vehicle believed to be linked to the shootings.

Minnesota State Senator Amy Klobuchar took to X on Saturday to honor her ‘good friend’ State Representative Melissa Hortman.

‘I am heartbroken and horrified by the tragic loss of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were taken from us in an act of violence,’ Klobuchar wrote.

‘Melissa was a good friend—we started in politics at the same time and were always there for each other. She was a true public servant, dedicating her life to Minnesotans with integrity and compassion. Melissa’s legacy will endure, but today we grieve deeply. John’s and my prayers are with their children, their loved ones, and all who are mourning this devastating loss.’

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords also paid tribute on X:
‘I’m devastated to learn that my friend, Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, and her husband, Mark Hortman, were killed in last night’s shooting.’

Giffords, now head of the gun violence prevention group GIFFORDS and a survivor of a 2011 mass shooting in Arizona, added:

‘My family and I know the horror of a targeted shooting all too well. An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself. Leaders must speak out and condemn the violent extremism threatening everything this country stands for.’

President Donald Trump called the shooting ‘terrible’ in a statement, adding that federal authorities would prosecute any perpetrator to the ‘fullest extent of the law.’

‘Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America,’ he said. ‘God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!’

In the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, the streets are unnervingly quiet as several businesses have shuttered after authorities urged residents to stay indoors.

The normally busy shopping centers are deserted and a sign at a local grocery store reads: ‘Closed (due to lock down).’

The gunman is reportedly heavily armed, wearing body armor and dressed similarly to the officers chasing him.

Residents of Brooklyn Park are encouraged to continue to stay in their homes, the town’s police chief said said. If a police officer comes to your door, he added, residents should call 911 to confirm whether an officer is supposed to be there.

Also, all Brooklyn Park police officers are working in pairs today, so no officer should be approaching a home alone, he said.

Federal officials are assisting local authorities in the extensive search effort, collecting evidence to track down the on-the-run suspect.

Shortly after law enforcement officers responded to a report of a shooting at the home of State Senator John Hoffman, where they found him and his wife injured, officers chose to check on the nearby residence of State Representative Melissa Hortman.

During that check, officers encountered the suspect, who opened fire on them before fleeing the scene.

The suspect fired at police officers as they arrived at the home of State Representative Melissa Hortman around 3:35 am.

‘The individual was able to escape during that exchange of gunfire,’ Drew Evans, who leads the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, told the New York Times.