Mark Hortman, a devoted husband, loving father, and respected professional, was tragically killed in a horrific overnight shooting at his home in Brooklyn Park. He died alongside his wife, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, in what officials are calling a politically motivated, targeted attack.
The senseless act of violence unfolded in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 14, when a man impersonating a police officer arrived at the Hortmans’ suburban home near a local golf course and opened fire. Both Mark and Melissa were fatally shot multiple times. The gunman, identified by authorities as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, is currently the subject of an intense statewide manhunt.
Mark Hortman, 55, was more than the husband of a powerful state legislator—he was a kind, steady presence who brought warmth and integrity to everything he did. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Mark made a home in Minnesota where he built a life rooted in service, hard work, and love for his family.
Professionally, Mark served as a Program Manager at nVent Electric and previously owned and operated Avatar Solutions LLC. He was known by colleagues for his leadership, strategic thinking, and easygoing demeanor. Friends recall a man who could talk tech as easily as he could lend a hand moving boxes or offering a laugh over a backyard grill.
Mark and Melissa, partners in life and purpose, shared a deep bond and were raising two children together. They had attended the annual Humphrey-Mondale Democratic fundraiser just hours before the attack, appearing full of joy and pride as they mingled with longtime friends and political allies.
The following morning, grief struck Minnesota like a thunderclap. Governor Tim Walz, holding back tears during a press conference, called the incident an assassination and mourned the loss of both a public leader and a personal friend.
“Our state has lost a great leader, and I lost the dearest of friends,” Walz said. “And we’ve lost Mark, whose quiet support and love made it all possible.”
Friend and former classmate Neil Marth shared, “I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Melissa and Mark Hortman. I went to high school with Melissa and became close friends with Mark over the years. They were kind, generous, and good-hearted people. This is an unbearable tragedy.”
Another friend, Mike Poirier, expressed sorrow and outrage: “This couple was shot to death in their home last night by a right-wing lunatic driven into a murderous frenzy by hateful political rhetoric. He even killed their dog. Mark and Melissa were kind, loving people, pictured here in happier times with their children. They did not deserve this.”
The attack also targeted State Senator John Hoffman and his wife at their home in nearby Champlin. Both were shot but are expected to survive. Authorities say the gunman had a list of additional political targets, raising fears of further violence as the search for Boelter continues.
While Melissa will be remembered as a legislative trailblazer and powerful advocate for Minnesotans, Mark should be remembered as the steady, generous heart beside her — a man who supported his wife’s dreams while building his own legacy in business, friendship, and fatherhood.
The deaths of Mark and Melissa Hortman have sent shockwaves not only through the halls of power but through the hearts of friends, neighbors, and all who knew them as kind, grounded, and deeply human.
Funeral arrangements and a public memorial will be announced by the family in the coming days. The community is asked to keep the Hortman children and extended family in their thoughts as they navigate this immense tragedy.