“Kayla and I both wish to keep this matter private for many reasons.”
Rep. Melissa Hortman’s children are breaking their silence three days after her tragic death.
The 55-year-old politician, who served as the 61st Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019, was shot and killed inside her Brooklyn Park home on June 14.
Her husband, Mark Hortman, and the family’s dog, Gilbert, were also shot and killed in the incident.
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On June 17, the couple’s two children — Sophie and Colin Hortman — spoke out for the first time.
“We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents,” they wrote in a statement shared by The Hill. “They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe they are gone.”
“Their love for us was boundless,” the statement continued. “We miss them so much.”
The suspected shooter, identified as 57-year-old Vance Boelter, was taken into custody on June 15 and is now facing six charges in federal court, including stalking and murder charges, per CBS News.
He was also charged with two counts of second-degree attempted murder in the shooting of Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, that same night. Both Senator Hoffman and his wife are expected to recover from their wounds.
The shootings are currently being investigated as “politically motivated,” per NBC News.
“(We) would like to thank law enforcement for their swift action that saved others and for the coordination across communities that led to the arrest of the man who murdered our parents,” Sophie and Colin wrote.
“We especially would like to thank the officers who were first on the scene to our parents’ home and their heroic attempts to rescue our mom and dad,” they added.
The two children went on to praise their parents for the many lives they touched and for leaving behind an “incredible legacy of dedication to their community.”
Hortman’s children reflect on the ‘best way’ to honor their parents
In the wake of her death, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz reflected on the “giant” that Hortman was.
“Just her smile and the way she conducted herself, obviously policy and skillfulness — you’ve heard all about that, but it was personality, and it was the hope, and it feels different in here,” Walz said, per MPR.
“I think for a lot of Minnesotans, it’s going to be a really, really hard week,” he added.
In their June 17 statement, Sophie and Colin revealed how others can honor their parents’ legacy.
“Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. Our parents lived their lives with immense dedication to their fellow humans. This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together,” the children wrote.
They also encouraged people everywhere to “hold your loved ones a little closer.”
“The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else,” they continued.
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“Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect,” they added.
