By John Ogunsemore
John Hoffman, a senator in the state of Minnesota, United States, has narrated his experience after surviving an assassination attempt.
Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, survived a targeted shooting at their home in Champlin, Minnesota on June 14.
The attack on the state senator, described as politically motivated, was carried out by Vance Boelter, who allegedly posed as a police officer and wore a silicone mask.
The lawmaker was shot nine times and his wife eight times, but both survived and are recovering, thanks in part to their daughter, Hope, who quickly called emergency services.
Boelter is also accused of fatally shooting Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in a related attack.
The Hoffmans released a statement on Thursday about their experience.
The family said John is still in critical but stable condition and Yvette is in stable condition.
The statement reads, “Because we have been hospitalised and receiving medical care, we have not been able to provide much information regarding the horrible circumstances of June 14th, but would now like to provide a statement offering more clarity of what happened.
“After having attended the Humphrey Mondale dinner on Friday, June 13th, we returned to our home, joined there by our adult daughter, Hope. 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. 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. Hope then rushed to shut the door and secured the lock; she got to the phone and shared with the 911 operator that Senator John Hoffman had been shot in his home.
“Her brave actions and quick thinking triggered the notice to public safety officials that a politically-motivated act was potentially underway.
“As we continue to receive medical care, we are deeply grateful for those providers, for the first responders and for all those in law enforcement who worked so quickly, professionally and selflessly to safeguard others and to apprehend the shooter, starting with our own officers in Champlin and Brooklyn Park.
“We are heartbroken to know that our friends Melissa and Mark Hortman were assassinated. Our daughter Hope and Sophie Hortman went to school together, and we know that they – along with Colin Hortman – will have each other’s support as we all work through the devastating consequences of that horrific night.”