Hundreds gathered at the Basilica of St. Mary’s in Minneapolis to pay their respects to Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark, on Saturday, June 28. Among those who went were former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
On Friday, June 27, the Hortmans and their dog, Gilbert, lay in state at the Minnesota Capitol. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported the Department of Public Safety estimated more than 7,000 people attended the Capitol event.
Biden’s attendance at the visitation sparked social media appreciation from the opposite side of the aisle.
“As I paid my respects to Speaker Hortman, her husband Mark and their dog, Gilbert, I felt the raw grief of so many Minnesotans,” Republican state Sen. Julia Coleman wrote on X. “A political assassination is an attack on our State’s heart, no matter our politics or place. President Biden’s attendance today acknowledged that truth and demonstrated humanity over partisanship.”
Hortman not the only target in shooting
Hortman was shot and killed along with her husband in their Brooklyn Park home early on June 14. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot inside their home in Champlin, some eight miles away. The neighboring suburbs are situated north of Minneapolis.
Vance Boelter allegedly shot and injured John and Yvette Hoffman multiple times before authorities say he killed the Hortmans. Yvette Hoffman was released from the hospital on June 19. Her husband is still hospitalized, but Yvette Hoffman told NBC News on Friday, June 27, that John’s condition “continues to improve.” Biden visited John Hoffman in the hospital while in Minnesota.
“He is alert, he’s been up walking around and is able to eat,” Yvette Hoffman said in a statement to NBC. “He’s also giving the State Troopers guarding him some grief.”
Law enforcement officials who spoke to ABC News said Boelter had a “target list” of dozens of Minnesota politicians, including Walz, U.S. Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar; U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, also a Democrat, and state Attorney General Keith Ellison. ABC wrote the list also included Hortman, a former state House speaker and Hoffman. Lawmakers from other states were on the list as well, Axios reported.
Boelter faces federal and state charges in connection to the shootings.
