USA Suspect arrested after fatal shooting of US congresswoman

SDA

16.6.2025 - 05:32

Democratic Congresswoman Melissa Hortman was killed in her home in the city of Brooklyn Park. Photo: George Walker IV/AP/dpa
Democratic Congresswoman Melissa Hortman was killed in her home in the city of Brooklyn Park. Photo: George Walker IV/AP/dpa
Keystone

Following the fatal shooting of a politician and her husband in the US state of Minnesota, police have arrested the suspected perpetrator, according to media reports. The suspect was taken into custody on Sunday evening (local time) in Sibley County in southern Minnesota, several US media outlets reported, citing police officials.

Keystone-SDA

The alleged perpetrator is a 57-year-old man who, according to research by US media, works in the security industry. Prior to the suspect's arrest, a car was found nearby that was said to belong to him. The man fled the scene after the crime on Saturday, whereupon a large-scale manhunt was launched.

Early Saturday morning (local time), the gunman killed Democratic representative Melissa Hortman, who was a member of the Minnesota legislature, and her husband Mark at the couple's home in the city of Brooklyn Park. In another attack in nearby Champlin, a Democratic senator from the state legislature, John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette were gunned down and seriously injured.

The authorities assume a political motive behind the attacks.