Minnesotans gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol to mourn Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband Mark, as they lay in state in St. Paul on Friday (June 27).

The suspect accused of assassinating a Minnesota lawmaker and shooting another drove to the homes of at least four state politicians as part of a planned killing spree, U.S. authorities said.

Vance Boelter, 57, faces state and federal murder charges after his arrest following a massive two-day manhunt that was the largest in state history.

He is accused of fatally shooting Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband Mark, in their home on Saturday. Boelter is also charged with shooting and wounding Democratic lawmaker, state Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette, in their home a few miles away.

The killings unfolded against a backdrop of increasing political violence in the U.S. in an era of extreme social and political polarization.

President Donald Trump was the target of two assassination attempts during his campaign last year, including at a Pennsylvania rally that left him with a wounded ear and killed one bystander. In April, a man broke into the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and set it on fire while Shapiro and his family were asleep.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 27, 2025) (STRINGR.COM – ACCESS ALL)

1. MINNESOTA LAWMAKER MELISSA HORTMAN AND HER HUSBAND MARK HORTMAN LYING IN STATE AT THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL

2. GUARD / COFFINS / PEOPLE WALKING AROUND COFFINS

3. PEOPLE WRITING / MEMORIAL AREA WITH FLOWERS AND MESSAGES

4. PEOPLE IN LINE WAITING TO ENTER PROCESSION AREA

5. MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL EXTERIORS AS PEOPLE WAIT IN LINE TO ENTER

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANU TERO, MINNESOTAN RESIDENT, SAYING:

"To think that a man and his wife and their dog are up there, it's just heartbreaking. And I reach... want to reach out to their children and can't imagine how they close their eyes at night and how much they all miss their parents."

7. PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE ON STEPS OUTSIDE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL TO ENTER PROCESSION AREA

8. JEAN JACKET WITH PHOTO OF MINNESOTA LAWMAKER MELISSA HORTMAN AND HER HUSBAND MARK HORTMAN THAT READS ‘MARK & MELISSA’S MINNESOTA’

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE, BUSINESS OWNER, SAYING:

"I found that as a black business owner. There was a lot of stuff that we didn't have access to - political capital, social capital, a financial capital. And so I created Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol in Minnesota in 2023, and nothing like that had ever happened before. And I didn't have any legislators scheduled to speak at my event. And Melissa Hortman raised her hand, she stepped up, and not only that, but she brought legislators to the event, validated the event for us. And then proceeded to meet with the business owners, hear their concerns."

10. PEOPLE IN LINE

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRISSA NELSON, MINNESOTAN, SAYING:

"I just came to pay my respects to Melissa and Mark and Gilbert, the dog, and I'm feeling pretty sad today. Sorry if I'm going to start crying."

12. PEOPLE IN LINE