MINNEAPOLIS (BN24) — A massive manhunt is underway in Minnesota as state police and the FBI search for a gunman accused of carrying out a deadly, politically motivated attack on Democratic state lawmakers. The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, remains at large following the fatal shooting of former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the critical wounding of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife in two targeted home invasions Saturday.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said Boelter should be considered “armed and dangerous.” The suspect was last seen in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area wearing a light-colored cowboy hat and posing as a law enforcement officer. Authorities say he fled on foot after exchanging gunfire with police at the scene of the second shooting.
According to law enforcement, Boelter left behind a vehicle containing a manifesto and a list of nearly 70 names—including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, Senator Tina Smith, and Attorney General Keith Ellison—along with abortion providers and rights advocates. Police say the evidence indicates a broader plot targeting Democratic political figures and liberal causes.
Coordinated Attacks Prompt Statewide Alarm
Police say Boelter first entered the Champlin home of Senator Hoffman and his wife around 2 a.m. CDT and shot them both multiple times. They were rushed into emergency surgery, and Governor Walz said he is “cautiously optimistic” about their recovery.
Soon after, Boelter reportedly drove about five miles to the Brooklyn Park residence of Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and fatally shot them. Officers responding to the earlier attack were already on alert and sent units to check on other potential targets named in the suspect’s materials. When officers arrived at the Hortmans’ home, they encountered what appeared to be a law enforcement vehicle and a man dressed as a police officer.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said the suspect opened fire on the officers before retreating back into the home and then escaping out the rear. Boelter was wearing a vest with tactical equipment, a badge, and a taser, leading authorities to believe he was impersonating law enforcement during the attacks.
“This was an act of targeted political violence,” said Walz. “Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don’t resolve our differences with violence or at gunpoint.”
Political Leaders React as Threats Widen
The shootings drew immediate condemnation from political figures across party lines. The Minnesota congressional delegation issued a joint statement decrying the violence:
“There is no place in our democracy for politically motivated violence. We speak with one voice in expressing outrage and grief for this horrific attack on public servants.”
President Donald Trump also issued a statement after being briefed on the incident:
“Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!”
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that flyers with the phrase “No Kings” were found in the suspect’s car, although no direct link has been established to the No Kings Coalition, a protest movement opposing Trump’s policies. The coalition canceled planned demonstrations in Minnesota following the issuance of a shelter-in-place order and reports that the armed suspect was impersonating police officers.
National Trend of Political Attacks
The killings mark one of the most serious incidents in a growing trend of politically charged violence in the United States. In recent years, threats and attacks on elected officials have intensified. The Minnesota shootings come after the 2020 kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the April arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence, and a July 2024 assassination attempt against then-candidate Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.
Authorities are also monitoring possible links to other threats. On the same day as the Minnesota shootings, the Texas Department of Public Safety evacuated the state Capitol in Austin after identifying a “credible threat” targeting lawmakers scheduled to attend a protest. No connection to the Minnesota suspect has been confirmed.
Meanwhile, federal and state officials continue the urgent search for Boelter, who they say is equipped with tactical gear and armed. Law enforcement agencies across the region have been placed on high alert as investigators work through the suspect’s hit list and manifesto.
