Raleigh native Mark Hortman killed alongside Minnesota lawmaker wife in targeted attack: 'Disbelief'
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- The deadly, politically motivated shooting in Minnesota has a connection to the Triangle.
Mark Hortman, the husband of Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, was a Raleigh native.
The Hortmans were shot and killed in an attack at their home in suburban Minneapolis early Saturday. They are being remembered as a close couple, and loved ones expressed shock over this attack, which has sparked a manhunt that ended Sunday night with the capture of the suspect.
Mark Hortman's Facebook page listed that he was from Raleigh, and his LinkedIn profile indicated that he attended NC State University for a couple of years before graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in physics and a minor in computer science. Professionally, his LinkedIn profile noted that he worked for IBM before moving to Minnesota and had a career in the technology and e-commerce industries.
Mark Hortman grew up around Six Forks Road and attended Millbrook High School, graduating in 1984. A friend described Mark as loving, smart, and kind, recalling his effusive support of his wife's political career.
In a statement, a Hortman family member echoed that sentiment, telling ABC11: "We are in total disbelief over this. Mark and Melissa are the type of people that would do anything for you. Melissa loved working in politics, and Mark was always so supportive of her. It's just horrific, and everyone is just trying to process it."
Melissa Hortman had been in office since 2005, a period that included six years as House Speaker. Hortman was Board Secretary of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which North Carolina House Democratic Leader Robert Reives serves on as a member of the Board of Directors.
"I knew Rep. Melissa Hortman through my involvement at the DLCC. She was a fierce advocate for her constituents and state," Reives said in a statement. "I join the countless Americans who grieve the lives taken this weekend. Political violence has no place in our society."
In a statement on the shooting, DLCC President Heather Williams wrote:
"I am horrified to hear about the shooting of two champions for Minnesota families, and am absolutely devastated about the passing of DLCC Board Member and Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman was an outspoken advocate for her community who never tired in her fight to deliver for Minnesota's working families. As a DLCC board member, Speaker Emerita Hortman was an invaluable leader helping to empower and build the next generation of Democratic state legislative leaders. She will be remembered as a tireless public servant, a mother, and a dear friend. Political violence is never the answer. We are praying for the full recovery of Senator Hoffman and his wife and are keeping the Speaker Emerita's and Senator's friends, families, and colleagues in our thoughts."
The Minnesota House DFL Caucus released a statement Saturday evening saying, "We are shocked and devastated at the shootings of our colleagues, and at the assassination of our Speaker, Melissa Hortman, and her husband, Mark. This is an unspeakable act of political violence that should never happen in the United States of America."
The caucus added that Melissa and Mark were dear friends to many and "this caucus will miss her and Mark greatly."
Mark was 58 years old. He and Melissa had two children.
The investigation into that shooting -- and that of another Minnesota lawmaker, Democratic State Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, who underwent multiple surgeries, continues. Authorities identified 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter as the suspected gunman in both shootings.
In a news conference late Sunday afternoon, authorities confirmed they had spoken with Boelter's wife.
"Any time an individual is identified as a suspect in an investigation, we're going to talk to their family members and do that. We met with his family, not just his wife, but other family members to really understand what's going on, and that's part of that. And that will help us complete the investigation," said Drew Evans, who serves as Superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
This is the latest instance of politically targeted violence in the country, a period that has seen the assassination attempt of Donald Trump during a campaign rally last year that killed an attendee and an alleged arsonist who set the Pennsylvania Governor's Mansion on fire in an attempt to kill Gov. Josh Shapiro.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein shared a statement on X following the shootings, writing:
"I am appalled by reports of the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as the attempted assassination of Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Political violence threatens our democracy and has no home in America. My heart goes out to Rep. Hortman's children and family, and Anna and I join the nation in praying for the Hoffmans' recovery."
