Authorities are actively searching for Vance Boelter, 57, the suspect in a politically motivated shooting spree that targeted Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota. Boelter, a former appointee to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, is accused of killing Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband at their Brooklyn Park home and injuring Senator John Hoffman and his wife at their Champlin residence, located just five miles apart. A “manifesto” found in a fake police vehicle at one of the scenes named multiple lawmakers and officials, suggesting premeditation.
The shootings occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday and have prompted a massive manhunt. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley confirmed that the suspect impersonated a police officer and warned residents to only open their doors if two officers are present. A shelter-in-place order remains active for a three-mile radius around the Edinburgh Golf Course area, as the suspect—described as a white male wearing a black tactical vest and blue uniform—remains at large.
Governor Tim Walz has called the shootings a “political assassination,” especially in regard to Hortman’s killing. The FBI has joined local authorities in the investigation. Walz expressed optimism for Hoffman and his wife, who were both seriously wounded but are expected to survive. He praised Hortman as a dedicated and beloved public servant whose loss is a devastating blow to the state.
Police say Boelter, who previously served under both Governors Walz and Dayton, exchanged gunfire with officers at Hortman’s home before fleeing on foot. His impersonation of law enforcement has made the situation especially dangerous. Officers are now conducting welfare checks on other lawmakers in the area and continuing efforts to locate the armed and dangerous suspect.
