Violence and fear swept through towns in an arc around Minneapolis for more than 40 hours over the weekend as a man seemingly intent on sowing political devastation killed one Minnesota state lawmaker and left another bleeding from nine bullet wounds.

A manhunt is underway for the gunman who was impersonating a police officer and had a list of possible targets, officials said.

By Nathan Layne BLAINE, Minnesota (Reuters) -From the pulpit on Sunday, Father Joe Whalen exhorted his parishioners to avoid the kind of extreme partisanship and hate that appeared to be behind the killing of one of the church's own,

The bill, however, drew opposition from the First Amendment Foundation, which said it would reduce 'transparency.'

Daylight was still two hours off when Brooklyn Park police approached the home of former Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman to find someone had beat them there.

One of the debilitating aspects of any violence is how final and definitive it is and how anemic any response to it feels. Capturing and trying the alleged culprit are necessary next steps but nothing unwinds what was done.

U.S. Capitol Police increased security for Klobuchar and Smith following the attacks, which occurred early Saturday morning. Minnesota's entire congressional delegation, both Republicans and Democrats, released a joint statement condemning the killings.

While Washington hosted a military parade, large crowds gathered across the country Saturday to peacefully protest President Donald Trump’s policies. The threat of violence – and news of a political assassination in Minnesota – added to tensions.