‘True model of humility’: hundreds pay tribute to victims of Minnesota killings

Hundreds gathered at the Minnesota capitol on Wednesday night to honor the state Democratic representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were killed at their home on Saturday night in what authorities have described as a “political assassination”.

Some mourners reportedly brought flowers to place in front of this memorial, while others held candles. Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor, grew teary at the vigil, and consoled attenders, as a brass band from the Minnesota Orchestra performed, according to the Associated Press.

Colin Hortman, Melissa and Mark’s son, hugged Walz and placed a photograph of his parents on their memorial. This is the first of several public vigils planned to memorialize the Hortmans before their funeral, MPR reported.

The vigil also featured a string quartet, as well as a Native American drum circle. Attenders sang Amazing Grace together.

Mourners, standing “shoulder to shoulder”, also brought “flags, handwritten notes and other mementos to Hortman”. A large blanket, laid out on the ground, allowed attendees to pen messages, per MPR.

One message reported by MPR said: “Melissa was a true model of humility. She didn’t do this work to boost her own ego, further her political career or garner fame and glory. She did it to improve people’s lives.”

The vigil’s organizers told attenders not to bring signs and decided not to have a speaking program. Walz said that Hortman should lie in state at Minnesota’s capitol, MPR said.

The Hortmans’ suspected killer, Vance Boelter, also stands accused of attempted murder for shooting state senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their home in nearby Champlin. Boelter, 57, faces state and federal charges for the fatal shootings.

The Hoffmans are recovering from their injuries. Authorities said that Boelter, who allegedly had a list of targets including other Democratic lawmakers and abortion rights advocates, traveled to two other legislators’ homes that evening – with plans to assassinate them.

Attenders, some of whom knew the Hortmans personally or through her work, came from diverse political backgrounds. As Zack Stephenson, who co-chairs a state house budget committee, prepared to honor Hortman several hours before the vigil, he described their friendship.

People attend a candlelight vigil outside the state capitol in St Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday. Photograph: Steven Garcia/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Stephenson said that he met Melissa Hortman when he was 18, volunteering on her campaign. He worked closely with Hortman in the state house and described her as a mentor.

“She was a leader who was not afraid to invest in other leaders. It didn’t threaten her,” Stephenson told the Guardian.

Hortman prioritized kindness in her work and told fellow Democrats in 2023 that they shouldn’t confuse kindness for weakness. They could be strong leaders and still be respectful and kind, Stephenson recalled her saying.

“No one worked harder than her,” Stephenson said. “Those kind of timeless values of, be kind to people, work hard, care about the institution more than partisan politics, those things really matter. People saw that.”

Lynne Billing, of St Paul, Minnesota, told MPR she knew Melissa Hortman “was special and I knew she really cared about people”.

“It’s just a huge, huge loss and I’m just here to say I’m going to miss her,” Billing said.

While remembrances for the Hortmans have come from people of all political stripes, Donald Trump said he will not call Walz, adding that calling would “waste time”, AP said. Trump, in ruling out a call to Walz, described Minnesota’s governor as “slick” and “whacked out”.

“I could call him and say: ‘Hi, how you doing?’” Trump reportedly said. “The guy doesn’t have a clue. He’s a, he’s a mess.”

Walz’s office said that the governor hoped Trump “would be a president for all Americans”. US presidents routinely contact governors, as well as other state and local officials, after tragedies.

“This tragedy isn’t about Trump or Walz,” Teddy Tschann, a spokesperson for the governor, said. “It’s about the Hortman family, the Hoffman family, and the state of Minnesota, and the governor remains focused on helping all three heal.”

Walz did speak with JD Vance as well as former president Joe Biden and former vice-president Kamala Harris, AP said.

Rachel Leingang contributed reporting