Children of Minn. Rep. Melissa Hortman and Her Husband Mark Break Silence After Parents’ Murders: ‘They Were the Center of Our Lives’

The children of the late Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman are speaking out on their parents’ deaths.

The Hortmans were shot and killed in what Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called a “politically motivated assassination” on Saturday, June 14.

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Monday, June 16, Sophie and Colin Hortman wrote, “We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents, Melissa and Mark. They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe they are gone. Their love for us was boundless. We miss them so much.”

“We want everyone to know that we are both safe and with loved ones,” they continued. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received, and we appreciate your respect for our family’s privacy as we grieve.”

The statement then referenced the two-day manhunt that led to the capture of alleged gunman Vance Boelter. Boelter was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder, the criminal complaint showed, according to Reuters. Federal prosecutors also charged him with stalking and murdering the Hortmans and stalking and shooting Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman.

“Our family would like to thank law enforcement for their swift action that saved others and for the coordination across communities that led to the arrest of the man who murdered our parents,” Sophie and Colin Hortman continued. “We especially would like to thank the officers who were first on the scene to our parents’ home and their heroic attempts to rescue our mom and dad.”

Paying tribute to their parents’ legacies in Minnesota, the siblings wrote: “Our parents touched so many lives, and they leave behind an incredible legacy of dedication to their community that will live on in us, their friends, their colleagues and co-workers, and every single person who knew and loved them.”

They also encouraged members of the community to honor their parents’ memories. “If you would like to honor the memory of Mark and Melissa, please consider the following: Plant a tree. Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail. Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do,” they said. “Tell your loved ones a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it. Bake something — bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa, and share it with someone. Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something. Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace.”

The siblings concluded their statement, “Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. Our parents lived their lives with immense dedication to their fellow humans. This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect. The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”