The Minnesota lawmaker who survived an attack by a gunman on his doorstep is still in a critical condition and has revealed details of the terrifying moment he and his wife were shot multiple times.
Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, released a statement Thursday, obtained by NBC affiliate KARE of Minneapolis, outlining the events in the early hours of June 14.
The Hoffmans continue their recovery in the hospital — Sen. Hoffman is in a critical but stable condition, while his wife is in a stable condition, the statement said.
The suspected gunman, Vance Boelter, is accused of shooting them and killing the state’s top legislator, Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz described the shootings as “targeted political violence.”
In the statement, the Hoffmans described the night of the shooting, which occurred after they returned to their Champlin home from a dinner. Their adult daughter Hope was also present.
“At approximately 2:00 a.m., we were all awakened by the sounds of pounding on the front door and shouts of someone seeking entry, identifying himself as a police officer,” the couple’s statement said.
“When the door was opened, all three of us were in the entryway. John initially lunged at the gunman as the weapon was pointed directly at him, getting struck nine times. As John fell, Yvette reached out to push the man and shut the door, succeeding before she was also hit eight times by gunfire,” the statement continued.
The couple’s daughter then shut the door and locked it before phoning 911.
“Her brave actions and quick thinking triggered the notice to public safety officials that a politically-motivated act was potentially underway,” the statement said.
The Hoffmans thanked the medical professionals who cared for them and the law enforcement officers who attended the scene and eventually caught Boelter after what became the biggest manhunt in Minnesota history.
The couple also said they were “heartbroken to know that our friends Melissa and Mark Hortman were assassinated,” adding that their daughters went to school together
In the statement, the couple also thanked the local community and Fernbrook School, where Yvette Hoffman works, for organizing a GoFundMe page that has raised almost $200,000 to pay for medical expenses and increased security measures.
Prosecutors said that notebooks found in Boelter’s SUV and at his home showed the names of more than 45 state and federal elected officials.
The Hoffmans reflected on the threat faced by public officials and said they understood that public sector figures sacrifice some level of privacy.
“But now we are grappling with the reality that we live in a world where public service carries such risks as being targeted because someone disagrees with you or doesn’t like what you stand for,” they said.
