Former President Joe Biden joined the thousands of Minnesotans on Friday who paid their respects to DFL House Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, who were shot and killed in their Brooklyn Park home earlier this month.
Biden arrived at the State Capitol shortly after 4 p.m. He proceeded alone to the cleared rotunda and paused for about a minute in front of the caskets. Biden, a Catholic, made the sign of the cross and knelt for a few moments, then left the center of the rotunda to speak with people standing nearby.
The public streamed into the building Friday to honor the Hortmans. Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris are also attending a private funeral for the Hortmans on Saturday, which will be streamed on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s YouTube page.
Biden reached out to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz shortly after he heard the news of the Hortmans’ deaths on June 14. They were gunned down in their home in what Walz called a politically motivated attack that also left state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, seriously injured.
While in the Twin Cities, Biden visited the hospital where John Hoffman is recovering after he and his wife suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Vance Boelter is accused of the shootings of both couples.
A selfie-style photo shows Biden smiling with the Hoffmans and their daughter, Hope.
Yvette Hoffman said in a statement that the senator’s condition is improving.
“He is alert. He’s been up walking around and is able to eat,” she said. “He’s also giving the state troopers guarding him some grief.”
