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Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot at their home near Minneapolis on Saturday. Hortman was a Democratic Party leader in the Minnesota House and served as the speaker until early this year. Here's a thread of what we know so far: 🧵

“We’re here today because an unspeakable tragedy has unfolded in Minnesota,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Saturday morning, adding that Hortman and her husband were killed in a "politically motivated assassination." Hear more from officials: wapo.st/45oghqY

The couple was found by police and taken to a hospital, where they underwent surgery for gunshot wounds. "We’re cautiously optimistic that they will continue to improve,” Evans said. wapo.st/45oghqY

Brooklyn Park police responding to the shooting at the Hortman home found the gunman and exchanged gunfire with them, Evans said. The gunman then retreated into the Hortman residence and fled through the back of the house. wapo.st/45oghqY

The assailant was driving a car with emergency lights that looked “exactly like” an SUV squad car, said Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley. They also wore a vest with a taser and a badge, Bruley said. wapo.st/45oghqY