Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz says former House Speaker and husband were killed in politically motivated shootings

Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz says former state legislator Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in a politically motivated assassination. The second lawmaker and his wife were shot and wounded.

“We all have to stand up against all forms of political violence in Minnesota and across the country,” Waltz said at a press conference on Saturday. “The ones responsible for this are accountable.”

The injured lawmaker was identified as Democrat Sen. John Hoffman was first elected in 2012. He runs the consulting company Hoffman Strategic Advisor. He previously served as vice-chairman of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, which manages Minnesota’s largest school district.

Hoffman is married and has one daughter. Hortman was the top-house Democratic leader of the state legislature and former House Speaker. She was first elected in 2004.

Both Hoffman and Hortman represented the district north of Minneapolis.

Drew Evans, director of the Criminal Arrest Bureau, said authorities were actively looking for suspects. Officials said the suspect was dressed as a law enforcement officer.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the extent of the injury, but Hortman and her spouse have died of gunshot wounds, Evans said.

Public Safety Commissioner Bob Johnson said the suspect is serving as a law enforcement officer.

“The suspect exploited the trust in our uniforms. Our uniforms are intended to be expressed by our uniforms. That betrayal is deeply intrusive to us who wear badges with honor and responsibility,” he said.

Gifford, a national gun violence prevention organization led by former MP Gabriel Guifford, has issued the following statement:

“I am terrified and heartbroken by the attacks on two patriotic civil servants last night,” Gifford said. “My family and I know very well the horrors of targeted shooting. The attack on lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself. Leaders must speak out and condemn the intense, violent extremism that threatens everything that this country represents.”

Giffords was shot in the head by a gunman who killed six people and injured 12 others in 2011. She resigned from Congress in January 2012 and focused on recovery.

This story was originally introduced Fortune.com