ORLANDO, Fla. – Leaders in Central Florida speak about the man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another.

“I’m just heartbroken and upset. When I first saw the news, I didn’t think it was real,” said Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani, reacting to the killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding of another.

Eskamani said the tragedy hits close to home because of threats she’s faced herself.

“Most recently, I received a direct threat from a social media app, threatening to shoot me and my staff,” she added.

According to federal officials, a California man was arrested last year after sending her office a message saying, “I’m gonna bring a gun to your office tomorrow and shoot you and your staff.” 

The man had also allegedly threatened another elected official in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“This is one example of what a lot of us go through,” Eskamani said.

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Political Analyst Jim Clark notes there haven’t been any deadly attacks on politicians in Florida.

However the Minnesota case—along with previous threats against figures like President Trump—puts security concerns front and center. 

“Staffers are someone that can be impacted because they’re connected to a politician,” Clark said. “Without a doubt, they’re the ones in the office all the time.”

We also spoke with Orange County GOP Chair Erin Huntley, who hadn’t heard about the DOJ’s investigation into the threat against Eskamani until now. 

“I didn’t know about that, but unfortunately, it seems to be all over the place,” she said.

Huntley says she’s glad the Justice Department is involved and believes law enforcement will do everything it can to protect political leaders and their teams. 

She said she is praying for all the victims in the Minnesota shootings and believes no one should have to die or be harmed because of their political beliefs.

“People want peace. Sometimes it takes people listening to other sides—but it’s uncomfortable to get to that point. That’s fine,” Huntley added.

Eskamani said many elected officials, including herself, often pay for their own security out-of-pocket. 

Since the Minnesota shootings, she says some local county leaders have reached out to offer assistance with customized security plans for public officials.

On Sunday evening, the Associated Press reported that Vance Boelter, the suspect in the Minnesota shootings, was arrested.