Dhaka, June 16 -- Melissa Hortman, once a teenager making chili cheese burritos and later a powerful Democratic leader in Minnesota's deeply divided Legislature, is being remembered for her compassion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to public service following her tragic death.

Hortman and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot early Saturday at their home in suburban Brooklyn Park in what authorities have described as targeted political violence. Their deaths came just hours after attending a major Democratic event in Minneapolis.

A lifelong resident of the Minneapolis area, Hortman pursued her higher education at Boston University before returning to Minnesota for law school. She began her career as a volunteer lawyer combating h...