Hours after the shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, prominent conservative influencers spun unsubstantiated theories that the suspect was a left-wing extremist who targeted the Democratic-aligned leaders for voting against party lines, and did so with the blessing of the state’s top Democrat, Gov. Tim Walz.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gave this statement overnight after state police apprehended the suspect in the assassination of State Rep. Melissa Hortman, the former Speaker of the Minnesota House, and her husband after a two-day manhunt.

Questions and misinformation have spread on social media and other platforms about the political views of the man suspected of assassinating Minnesota House DFL leader Melissa Hortman, and any connections that alleged gunman had to Gov.