The children of a Minnesota lawmaker who was killed at her home alongside her husband Saturday revealed they are safe among loved ones, and said that they are "devastated and heartbroken" by the loss of their parents.
State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed early Saturday morning. Police allege that Vance Boelter, 57, masqueraded as a police officer in a targeted, politically motivated assassination.
Before going to the Hortman home, police believe Boelter, 57, also went to the home of State Sen. John Hoffman, where he shot and injured Hoffman and his wife Yvette.
Boelter was captured by police and faces murder charges. The Hortman's children, Sophie and Colin, issued a statement to PEOPLE about the shootings on Monday.
"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. We miss them so much," they said according to PEOPLE. "We want everyone to know that we are both safe and with loved ones. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received, and we appreciate your respect for our family's privacy as we grieve."
Boelter has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder, according to Reuters.
The shooting at the Hoffman home happened around 2 a.m. In its aftermath, Brooklyn Park police went to Hortman's home as a well-being check. They arrived as Boelter was exiting Hortman's home and exchanged gunfire with him. Boelter fled on foot, abandoning the car he was driving. Inside the car, police found a hit list with 70 names of progressive leaders, elected officials, and supporters of abortion rights, KSTP reported.
"After a two-day manhunt, two sleepless nights, law enforcement have apprehended Vance Boelter," Walz said according to Reuters. "A moment in this country where we watch violence erupt, this cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences."
In their statement, Colin and Sophie also acknowledged the effort of law enforcement to track down Boelter during a two-day manhunt.
"Our family 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 Hortman continued. "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."
