UPDATE | 10:46 p.m. | State officials say the suspect is in custody.
WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – The criminal trial for Sen. Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) will not start tomorrow as scheduled, postponed after the assasination of Minnesota’s House Democratic leader and her husband.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that the court emailed the media today announcing the postponement. Mitchell allegedly broke into the home that her late father shared with her stepmother in Detroit Lakes. Mitchell denies the two burglary charges she faces. It’s not clear when the trial will start.
Kim Pleticha, the director of public affairs for the Minnesota Judicial Branch, told the newspaper the postponement was due to the murder of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their home in Brooklyn Park.
The suspect also shot state Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, at their home in Champlin. The Hoffmans survived the attack. Gov. Tim Walz described the shooting as politically motivated.
Officials say they found a hit list in the suspect’s vehicle. ABC reports that law enforcement sources say the list named Minnesota Democrats including Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. U.S. Sen. Tina Smith has confirmed she is on the list. It has not been disclosed if Mitchell is listed. Security measures have been increased for elected officials and those named on the hit list. The suspect remains at large.
Walz called Hortman “a formidable public servant” and said: “We are not a country that settles our differences at gunpoint. We have demonstrated again and again in our state that it is possible to peacefully disagree, that our state is strengthened by civil public debate. We must stand united against all forms of violence – and I call on everyone to join me in that commitment.”
The governor ordered flags flown at half-staff in Hortman’s honor.
House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Spring, said in a statement that few legislators have had as large an impact on the state as Hortman: “She was respected by everyone at the Capitol…. She battled fiercely but never let it impact the personal bond that we developed serving as caucus leaders.”
Identifying A Police Officer
The shootings prompted Woodbury police to post on Facebook about how to identify a legitimate city police officer. The post states officers wear official uniforms with the department patch as well as a department-issued badge that includes the city’s name and badge number.
Other tips:
- Vests and outerwear have defining markers on them, such as the word “Police” or the department’s patch.
- Officers wear a duty belt and carry a radio and a City of Woodbury Public Safety ID badge.
- Most Woodbury police officers drive vehicles that are clearly marked with decals and lights.
- Unmarked vehicles and undercover officers are used in specific circumstances.
If you’re unsure if an officer is legitimate, call Washington County Dispatch at 911 or 651-439-9381. “It is okay to remain in your vehicle or home and not open the window or door until you receive confirmation from dispatch,” the post states. “Our community’s safety, support and trust matter deeply to our team.”
PAST COVERAGE: Judge Denies Sen. Mitchell’s Motion, Trial Starts Next Week
PAST COVERAGE: Mitchell Asks Court To Dismiss Criminal Count
PAST COVERAGE: Panel Takes No Action Against State Sen. Nicole Mitchell
PAST COVERAGE: Republicans To File Second Ethics Complaint Against Sen. Nicole Mitchell
PAST COVERAGE: Senator Mitchell Facing Additional Charge
PAST COVERAGE: Judge Makes Decisions On Sen. Mitchell Trial
PAST COVERAGE: Judge Delays Sen. Mitchell’s Trial Until May
