Minnesotans mourn Melissa and Mark Hortman as thousands pay respects

A funeral was held for Minnesota House Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark on Saturday, June 28. — Image credit: Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP, Pool

This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

Public mourning

Hundreds of people attended the Basilica of St. Mary’s in Minneapolis to honor Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, on June 28.

Details of shootings

Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in their Brooklyn Park home on June 14. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were also shot at their home in Champlin.

Target list claims

The suspect in the shootings of the Minnesota lawmakers, Vance Boelter, reportedly had a "target list" of dozens of Minnesota politicians, including prominent state and federal figures.

Full story

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.

Tags: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Melissa Hortman, Minnesota, Tim Walz

Why this story matters

The killings of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, as well as the attack on State Sen. John Hoffman highlight concerns about violence against public officials and the unity expressed across the political spectrum in response.

Political violence

Attacks targeting prominent politicians and their families raise concerns about the safety of public officials and the stability of democratic institutions.

Bipartisan response

Attendance at memorial events by leaders from both major parties, including President Biden, reflects a collective condemnation of violence and acknowledgment of shared civic values.

Public safety and security

The revelation of a 'target list' and ongoing legal proceedings underscore the need for ongoing vigilance and improved protective measures for political figures.

Get the big picture

Synthesized coverage insights across 99 media outlets

Context corner

The attack on public officials comes amid a broader increase in political violence and polarization in the United States. Historians and commentators in the articles note the rarity of such events in Minnesota, and the lying in state of Melissa Hortman, her husband, and their dog was unprecedented, symbolizing the severity of the tragedy and the communal response.

History lesson

Melissa Hortman is the first woman, and among only 20 people in Minnesota history, to lie in state at the Capitol. No couple or non-human (the dog, Gilbert) have been honored in this manner before. History in the U.S. shows that high-profile political violence trends upward during periods of intense partisan conflict.

Terms to know

Lying in State: The tradition of displaying the body of a distinguished individual at a prominent public location to allow the public to pay respects. Political Assassination: The targeted killing of a public official due to their political role or actions.

Sources

Bias comparison

Left-Leaning coverage foregrounds the tragic and politically charged nature of the shootings, repeatedly describing them as a “political assassination” and emphasizing the emotional resonance of Melissa Hortman’s story, including the poignant detail of her dog Gilbert lying in state—a humanizing symbol of community and loss largely de-emphasized by right-leaning outlets.
Media outlets on the left adopted empathetic, somber language like “political violence” and “beloved,” framing the event within broader ideological polarization.
Media outlets in the center maintain a more neutral, factual tone with language like “profound loss,” focusing on bipartisan mourning and the public mourning rituals.
Media outlets on the right focus on calls for civility and community safety, using terms such as “stain on our state” and “line that has been crossed” to underscore societal breakdown, often skirting the explicit political affiliations or motives highlighted by the left.

Report an issue with this comparison

Media landscape

Click on bars to see headlines

243 total sources

Key points from the Left

Former President Joe Biden paid respects at the Minnesota Capitol and the funeral for Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, who were both shot in a politically motivated attack on June 14.
Vance Boelter has been charged with the murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman, as well as the shootings of John and Yvette Hoffman.
Gilbert, the couple's dog, who was injured during the attack, was euthanized and laid in state with their ashes.

Report an issue with this summary

Key points from the Center

A shooting on June 14 at Brooklyn Park killed Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their dog Gilbert, prompting a public memorial.
Thousands of Minnesotans queued at the Capitol, as Hortman became the first woman and Gilbert the first dog to lie in state, a rare honor usually reserved for high officials.
Following the public viewing, a private funeral was held Saturday, June 28, with former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris attending the service.

Report an issue with this summary

See Hide headlines from Center sources 123 sources

Key points from the Right

Former President Joe Biden visited the Minnesota Capitol to pay his respects to former Rep, Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their dog Gilbert as they lay in state.
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy expressed her sorrow for the Hortmans' death, stating she woke up with a "soul-crushing sadness."

Report an issue with this summary