Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman's Wife Breaks Her Silence After Shooting, as Suspect Remains at Large: 'Incredibly Lucky to Be Alive'

Yvette Hoffman has broken her silence after she and her husband, Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman, were injured in what is believed to have been targeted attacks on Democratic lawmakers.

On Sunday, June 15, Amy Klobuchar — who serves as the senior United States senator from Minnesota — shared a post on Facebook, in which she included a screenshot of a text message she received from Yvette after she extended well wishes.

“Our family is so humbled by the love and outpouring we’ve received from everyone,” Yvette began her message. “John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods.”

Detailing that her husband “took nine bullet hits” and she “took eight,” Yvette continued, “We are both incredibly lucky to be alive.”

“We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark. We have no words,” she concluded, referring to Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, who were murdered in the attack by the same alleged suspect. “There is never a place for this kind of political hate. … Minnesotans are at our very best when we stand together.”

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In the early hours of Saturday, June 14, John and Yvette were shot in their homes in an attack that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has described as a “targeted” and “politically motivated assassination.”

The senator and his wife, a kindergarten teacher, were shot in their Champlin home, authorities said in a press conference. They added that the shooter, who pretended to be a police officer, then targeted Rep. Hortman and her husband.

Police were first alerted to the attack at the Hoffman residence at around 2 a.m. local time, Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said during the June 14 press conference. 

After arriving at the scene, officials provided the couple with “lifesaving measures” and transported them to a hospital for treatment, per Evans.

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A local news report later revealed that the Hoffmans’ adult daughter, Hope, was present at their home during the June 14 attack — and her mom saved her life.

Following the shooting, Yvette’s nephew Matt Oleg revealed more details about the tragedy while speaking with KARE 11 reporter A.J. Lagoe.

Hope — a 28-year-old disability rights activist, according to her social media accounts — was with her parents at the time of the overnight attack, “and Yvette threw herself on top of her daughter,” Lagoe said during a June 14 broadcast, recalling the information Oleg shared.

The reporter also added that, according to Oleg, Hope “was not hit” by any gunfire.

Vance Boelter was identified as the suspect by officials during a later press conference on June 14.

Authorities said he was last seen “wearing a light-colored cowboy hat with a dark-colored long-sleeve collared shirt or coat, light pants and carrying a dark bag.” Officials also urged the public to call 911 should they encounter the suspect, and they said not to approach him, as he is considered “armed and dangerous.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) later released new images of Boelter and said they are offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction. The organization added that Boelter, 57, “should be considered armed and dangerous.”

A car allegedly belonging to Boelter was reportedly discovered a day later and more than 50 miles away from where the tragedy took place in Minnesota, according to an emergency alert went out to residents of Sibley County, ABC affiliate KSTP, the Minnesota Star Tribune and CNN reported.