Fliers associated with Saturday’s nationwide protests of President Trump were found in the car of a man accused of killing Minnesota’s former House speaker and her husband and wounding two others.
The Minnesota State Patrol warned residents to avoid “planned demonstrations” across the state Saturday, “out of an abundance of caution” as they hunt down the shooter.
They posted a photo of the suspect’s car seat, on which dozens of white fliers with the words “No Kings” printed on them were scattered.
Police warned residents in the area not to open their doors for a cop impersonator as they hunt for the man they said is armed and dangerous.
Rep. Melissa Hortman, the former speaker of the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, were killed, Gov. Tim Walz said Saturday.
Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, were shot multiple times in a separate attack by the same suspect and are undergoing surgery.
Ms. Hortman was a Democrat, as is Mr. Hoffman.
Mr. Walz, also a Democrat, described the death of Ms. Horman as “what appears to be a politically motivated assassination.”
Ms. Horman had recently voted to stop illegal immigrants from accessing state-funded health insurance.
According to “No Kings” organizers, which include the George Soros-funded Indivisible and hundreds of other liberal organizations, protests are slated for 1,800 locations across the country. Dozens of “No Kings” protests were planned in Minnesota.
More than 200 left-wing groups and workers unions, including the American Federation of Teachers, are participating in the “No Kings” event, which, according to organizers, is slated to be a “mass mobilization” against Mr. Trump, who they say has acted like a king since taking office in January.
The president told reporters Thursday, “I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.”
Police said the suspect arrived at Ms. Hortman’s house in a dark SUV with police lights and was dressed like a cop, complete with body armor and a taser and badge.
He exchanged gunfire with police before fleeing.
“No question if they were in this room, you would assume that they are a police officer,” a Minnesota law enforcement official said Saturday.
