John Hoffman's Wife 'Threw Herself in Front' of Their Daughter to Protect Her in ‘Politically Motivated Assassination,' Family Says
Gov. Tim Walz has since called the incident a "politically motivated assassination"
Melissa Hortman, another Democratic representative in the state, and her husband, were killed in the attackMinnesota Senator John Hoffman's wife Yvette Hoffman threw herself in front of the couple's daughter to protect her after they were targeted in what is being referred to by Gov. Tim Walz as a "politically motivated assassination."
Matt Oleg, Hoffman's nephew, spoke with KARE 11's A.J. Lagoe, telling the journalist that their family was "told that a bullet just very nearly missed Senator Hoffman's heart, that his wife Yvette is in better condition, she had no organs pierced, and that she saved the couple's daughter's life."
"The daughter Hope, who I believe is in her mid-twenties, was at home with her parents, and Yvette threw herself on top of her daughter," Lagoe continued, recalling the information shared with him by Oleg. He added that Hope "was not hit" by gunfire.
Oleg further told Lagoe that John and Yvette "are both out of surgery, they're stable," and "minutes ago had been trying to bring the senator out from under anesthesia."
Police were first alerted to the attack that took place at the Hoffmann residence around 2 a.m. local time, Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said in a June 14 press conference. FOX 9 and local NBC affiliate KARE 11 reported that Hoffman resides in Brooklyn Park.
Authorities then 'proactively' checked on Melissa Hortman, a Democratic representative in the state. There, they encountered the suspect, who 'immediately' fired at them, Evans said, adding, "The individual was able to escape during that exchange of gunfire." Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were killed in the attack.
Brooklyn Park then issued a shelter-in-place order while searching for the suspect, who was representing himself as law enforcement, according to KARE 11. The suspect is being described as a White male with brown hair, who was wearing a blue shirt, blue pants and black body armor.
During the June 14 press conference, Walz said he was "cautiously optimistic that John and Yvette "will survive this assassination attempt,' which he also described as "an act of targeted political violence.'
Oleg also told KARE 11's Lagoe that the Hoffman family had been at a fundraiser shortly before the incident took place.
"They were enjoying a good night out and came back, and then, you know, this assassination attempt happened in the middle of the night," Lagoe said.
"But the family says they are very hopeful right now and that they're getting positive messages coming out of the hospital regarding Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette," the reporter continued.
Lagoe also said that Oleg and the wider Hoffman family were told by medical professionals that things are looking "hopeful."
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