New Jersey is boosting police presence across the state after a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband were killed and a second legislator and his wife were wounded in what authorities said were politically motivated shootings Saturday.
“As a precaution, we will be increasing patrols throughout New Jersey,” state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said on social media. “There is no indication of a threat in our state — but we will remain vigilant in protecting public safety and our public officials."
Gov. Phil Murphy added that Platkin, the state’s top law enforcement official, is making the move “out of an abundance of caution,” stepping up “security for public officials and increased patrols statewide.”
This is on top of Platkin’s decision to beef up law enforcement at houses of worship, schools, and cultural centers in New Jersey after Israel’s strikes against Iran on Thursday. He said that move was also out of caution despite there being no known threat.
Melissa Hortman, a Democratic former Minnesota House speaker, and her husband were killed early Saturday at their Minnesota home by a gunman posing as a police officer, authorities said. Another Democratic legislator, state Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife were shot multiple times but are alive, authorities said.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, also a Democrat, described the shootings as “targeted political violence.”
Two people familiar with the matter identified the suspect being sought as 57-year-old Vance Boelter, according to the Associated Press. The people could not publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation.
Police recovered writing that mentioned the names of multiple lawmakers and other officials — including Walz — in the fake police car they believe the suspect used.
Minnesota TV station KSTP reported that Boelter was twice appointed to the nonpartisan Governor’s Workforce Development Council, in 2016 under then-Gov. Mark Dayton and again in 2019 under Walz.
Platkin, the New Jersey attorney general, wrote that “political violence is an attack on our democracy” and impersonating law enforcement to carry it out is sickening."
Murphy, a Democrat, said in a statement he was “horrified” by the shootings, calling them “an attack on our democracy.”
“There is no place for political violence in the United States, and we must all work together to ensure our political differences are settled through debate, not bloodshed,“ the New Jersey governor added.
Murphy also said “New Jersey is sadly all too familiar with targeted political violence against public officials and their families,” citing how a gunman showed up at U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas’ North Brunswick home in 2020, murdering her 20-year-old son Daniel and wounding her husband.
Both major-party candidates running to become New Jersey’s next governor this fall also condemned the attacks.
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee, wrote on social media “this type of political violence is an attack on the foundations of our democracy itself.”
Former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee, wrote that “politically motivated violence — all violence — has no place in America."
President Donald Trump said in a statement Saturday that he was briefed on “the terrible shooting” in Minnesota and that federal law enforcement officials are investigating.
“They will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law,” the president added. “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America.”
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who finished second to Sherrill in last week’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, placed the blame on Trump, saying “there is no safety in America as long as MAGA reigns.”
“Through the MAGA movement, Donald Trump has unleashed a tsunami of ignorance and blind hatred across this country,” Baraka addd in a statement. “And it will take every one of us to stand up against them with fierce determination to wrestle our country back.”
Stories by Brent Johnson
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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @johnsb01.
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