2 Minnesota lawmakers shot in politically motivated killings, governor says

102 points by awnird 3 weeks ago | 19 comments
  • AnimalMuppet 3 weeks ago
    Two lawmakers (and two spouses) shot in their homes, one lawmaker and one spouse dead.

    Shooter is disguised as a police officer.

    https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-d7983e1e...

    • irthomasthomas 3 weeks ago
      "very convincingly dressed as a police officer... driving what looked like a police SUV with emergency lights activated."

      https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/speaker-emerita-melissa-...

      Edit - they have the SUV but the not the shooter. Police found him at the second address and exchanged gun fire with him before he escaped on foot.

      Edit2 - SUV contains a list of targets, a manifesto, and many pieces of paper with 'No kings' printed on them. https://x.com/MnDPS_MSP/status/1933918239504929129

      • matsemann 3 weeks ago
        How do you see the difference between a terrorist claiming to be police, and a police officer with a mask and incoherent outfit (ICE)?
        • xnx 3 weeks ago
          > police officer with a mask and incoherent outfit (ICE)

          Is there an explanation for why ICE agents dress like TACTICOOL SWAT LARPers?

          • matsemann 3 weeks ago
            Yeah, was kinda my point, but wasn't a popular one based on the down votes. But my question is genuine. When you see 5 officers, all in various colors and personal gear, how can you actually know it's not just a gang dressing up? If they would come for me, why shouldn't I fight back with my life if I cannot be assured it's real cops?
          • nis0s 3 weeks ago
            The police there has been instructed to conduct affairs in pairs today, people have been instructed to report any police officers traveling alone/solo. You can also call 911 dispatch to confirm any police at your door is legit.
          • burnt-resistor 3 weeks ago
            The latter will scream "STOP RESISTING" while beating you.
          • 3 weeks ago
            • 3 weeks ago
              • dems4terrorists 3 weeks ago
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              • OgsyedIE 3 weeks ago
                The article doesn't mention any details about public alerts. I'd like to see the eventual postmortem cover whether there were any warnings being sent directly to phones in Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsay counties or if alerts have been limited to older messaging methods.

                Also, although many people would pin this purely on the political climate there appears to be an inadequate system for reliable identification nowadays that is also enabling a rise in impersonations.

                • Tadpole9181 3 weeks ago
                  How is the lack of reliable identification not a direct result of the political climate?

                  The Republican party believes it is acceptable for LEO and ICE to wear masks, refuse to give their names or badges or IDs, to swoop in with unmarked cars in plain clothes and point guns at civilians in order to kidnap "suspects" without warrant or apparent cause, then deny them lawyers and potentially ship them to other countries. They believe police should not wear bodycams, they believe they cannot be held liable for the damages, even bodily, that they cause. In fact, they even encourage the abuse of suspects and get on press conferences to explicitly state their plan to harm or kill. The sitting President has repeatedly joked about it on camera.

                  The Democratic party is the antithesis of this. Accountability, monitoring, zero-trust. Cameras, restraint, more limited roles, community outreach.

                  And now, here, someone dressed up as LEO assassinated Democratic legislators.

                  • SauciestGNU 3 weeks ago
                    This is more evidence that "secret police" are a threat that must be neutralized. Between assassinations and other imposter crimes, this is becoming a dangerous situation. And it's equally bad for legitimate law enforcement, I've read about multiple instances of drug enforcement raids being disrupted because the public thinks it's an ICE raid or other illegitimate paramilitary operation.
                    • mandmandam 3 weeks ago
                      > The Democratic party is the antithesis of this.

                      I really wonder how you got that impression.

                      I saw Democrats funding 'cop cities', and paying for police to learn their tactics from the IDF. I saw Biden proposing increasing police budgets by $1.7 billion dollars (after months of global BLM protests). I saw Obama, Biden and top Democrats happily voting to fund ICE, and boasting of deporting more immigrants than any other admin in history.

                      Republicans to police: "Shoot criminals dead."

                      Democrats to police: "Why can't you just shoot criminals in the leg?"

                      ... That's not what an "antithesis" looks like.

                      If you want real reform of ICE and the police, and expect to get it from Democrats just because they say they will, then you're gonna have to keep ignoring an awful lot of inconvenient reality.

                      • treetalker 3 weeks ago
                        Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
                      • gorpy7 3 weeks ago
                        Someone very local to the scene said they have received about 5 alerts so far.
                        • andygeorge 3 weeks ago
                          I live in Brooklyn Park and received 5, the last of which lifted the shelter in place order.
                      • lawn 3 weeks ago
                        The military has been deployed against civilians after masked government officials have been disappeared people.

                        And now political opponents have been murdered by an unidentified person wearing police clothes and driving a police car.

                        On the day of a military parade that would make Putin proud.

                        And most people don't care, or even cheer.

                      • cjbenedikt 3 weeks ago
                        1933 revisited. Inherit the wind.
                        • waltercool 3 weeks ago
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                            • blargthorwars 3 weeks ago
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                              • Tadpole9181 3 weeks ago
                                Giving a murderer, who assassinated democratic representatives, a stupid nickname like this is just unbelievable. It borders on praise.
                              • bayesianbot 3 weeks ago
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                                • waltercool 3 weeks ago
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                                  • readthenotes1 3 weeks ago
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                                    • mcphage 3 weeks ago
                                      > Maybe the No Kings Killer thought he had to kill elected representatives to preserve democracy?

                                      Maybe he isn’t interested in preserving democracy at all.

                                  • dems4terrorists 3 weeks ago
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