Sen. John Hoffman, wife say daughter alerted police to politically motivated shootings
Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, released a statement Thursday evening on the shooting last Saturday at their Champlin home that left them critically injured and hospitalized.
According to the statement, John Hoffman is in 'critical but stable condition' and Yvette Hoffman is in 'stable condition.'
Vance Boelter, 57, is accused of fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early Saturday in Brooklyn Park. Before that, authorities say, he also shot and wounded the Hoffmans, who live a few miles away. Boelter surrendered Sunday night after what authorities have called the largest manhunt in the state's history.
Hundreds attended a candlelight vigil at the state Capitol on Wednesday night for the Hortmans.
'Because we have been hospitalized and receiving medical care, we have not been able to provide much information regarding the horrible circumstances of June 14th, but would now like to provide a statement offering more clarity of what happened,' reads the statement.
'After having attended the Humphrey Mondale dinner on Friday, June 13th, we returned to our home, joined there by our adult daughter, Hope. At approximately 2:00 a.m., we were all awakened by the sounds of pounding on the front door and shouts of someone seeking entry, identifying himself as a police officer. When the door was opened, all three of us were in the entryway. John initially lunged at the gunman as the weapon was pointed directly at him, getting struck nine times. As John fell, Yvette reached out to push the man and shut the door, succeeding before she was also hit eight times by gunfire. Hope then rushed to shut the door and secured the lock; she got to the phone and shared with the 911 operator that Senator John Hoffman had been shot in his home.'
The couple said that their daughter Hope's 'brave actions and quick thinking triggered the notice to public safety officials that a politically-motivated act was potentially underway.'
In the statement, the couple also expressed gratitude to medical providers, first responders and law enforcement 'who worked so quickly, professionally and selflessly to safeguard others and to apprehend the shooter, starting with our own officers in Champlin and Brooklyn Park.
'We are heartbroken to know that our friends Melissa and Mark Hortman were assassinated. Our daughter Hope and Sophie Hortman went to school together, and we know that they — along with Colin Hortman — will have each other's support as we all work through the devastating consequences of that horrific night. We want to thank all those at Fernbrook School behind the GoFundMe account — you will be helping us pick up the broken pieces of our lives. We are uplifted by the prayers and support from so many across the state of Minnesota and the country: thank you.'
In closing, they mention the threats to those in public service.
'Choosing to work in the public sector, even in as limited a way as John's career as a senator, has always meant sacrificing a level of privacy. But now we are grappling with the reality that we live in a world where public service carries such risks as being targeted because someone disagrees with you or doesn't like what you stand for. As a society, as a nation, as a community, we must work together to return to a level of civility that allows us all to live peacefully. The future for our children depends on that. We will be praying for that work and appreciate all those who will join with us.'
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