Melissa Hortman was the Minnesota House's top Democrat and as House speaker helped shepherd a package of liberal initiatives to passage two years ago. After Democrats lost their majority, she

BELLE PLAINE, Minn. — The man suspected of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers, killing one of them, has been taken into custody, a law enforcement official said.

Democratic State Rep. Melissa Hortman, who once taught Sunday school at St. Timothy in Blaine, Minnesota, and was a speaker of the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their home early June 14 in what Gov. Tim Walz said “appears to be a politically motivated assassination.”

Colleagues described Representative Melissa Hortman as a skilled, conciliatory lawmaker who was at once steely and warm.

A somber Gov. Tim Walz spoke about the work and legacy of State Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated at her home Saturday.

Minnesota state House Democratic leader Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed and a second state lawmaker and his wife were shot and wounded. The suspect remains at large.