Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota lawmaker who was gunned down in what is described as a politically motivated attack, earned degrees at Boston University and Harvard.

The children of Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman are speaking out on their parents' murders. “They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe they are gone," Sophie and Colin Hortman wrote in a statement obtained by PEOPLE Monday.

Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were injured in the shooting.

Sophie and Colin Hortman are responding to the fatal shooting of their parents, Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), appeared to blame the assassination of Smith’s friend, Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman, on the political left. Smith sought him out to chat.

As shooting suspect Vance Boelter faced a judge Monday, friends and loved ones of shooting victims Mark and Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman continue to share tributes."Many times, when something tragic happens,

Democratic Sen. John Hoffman, his wife, and House Democratic leader Melissa Hortman were injured in what the governor describes as targeted shootings.

Before Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman became a nationally recognized figure following her fatal shooting death alongside her husband Saturday morning — an act public officials have called an act