Police in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, are investigating an apparent break-in at the home of state Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was shot and killed there with her husband, Mark Hortman, early Saturday in what Gov. Tim Walz described as “a politically motivated assassination.”
“The home appeared to have been searched by an unknown individual, but the family has indicated that they do not believe anything is missing,” Brooklyn Park Police said in a news release.
Police said that any evidence related to the Hortmans’ shooting deaths had already been removed from the house by crime scene investigators.
Authorities had placed a police trailer camera in front of the home, but someone pried off the plywood covering the rear window and broke the glass to gain entry, according to police.
Brooklyn Park Police are investigating the break-in, and crime scene investigators have returned to the home to collect evidence. Police have asked neighbors to check surveillance cameras and report anything suspicious.
Neighbors of the Hortmans, who are still processing the news of the lawmaker’s death, are outraged by the apparent break-in.
“Whoever broke in had no regard for the deceased couple who lived here,” Geoff Olinyk told CNN affiliate WCCO. “It’s a horrible deal that people would come now and desecrate their memory by breaking into the house.”
“It’s just very disturbing to know that someone would want to break into a house after a tragedy like this,” another neighbor, Sarah Abuisnaineh, told WCCO.
Prosecutors say Vance Boelter, dressed as a police officer, went to the homes of at least four Minnesota lawmakers, shooting and killing Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband, as well as shooting and seriously injuring state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
