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At least three people have been shot at the homes of Minnesota Democrats in overnight attacks by a gunman posing as cop

At least three people have been shot at the homes of Minnesota Democrats in overnight attacks by a gunman posing as cop

The Irish Sun21 hours ago

AT least three people have reportedly been shot at the homes of Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota in a series of attacks overnight.
Law enforcement have issued a shelter in place order in and around Brooklyn Park as they hunt for a gunman believed to be impersonating a police officer.
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Brooklyn Park shelter-in-place after multiple shootings, suspect may be impersonating police
Credit: Fox 9
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The shelter-in-place order from Brooklyn Park Police was issued in the early hours of Saturday morning
Credit: BPPD
The first shooting was reported in Champlin just after 2 am local time at the home of State Senator John Hoffman.
Two people, a man and a woman, are reported to have been shot at the residence but their identities have not been confirmed, per
This was followed by another shooting just a few miles away in Brooklyn Park at the home of another Democratic lawmaker who has not been named.
They are believed to be a state representative and at least one man was shot there.
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At 5:30 am an alert was sent to residents by Brooklyn Park Police saying: "Police are looking for a suspect in multiple targeted shootings who is armed and dangerous.
"Suspect is white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement."
No official statement has been made by law enforcement.
Minnesota Governor
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Taking to X, Walz said: "I've been briefed this morning on an ongoing situation involving targeted shootings in Champlin and Brooklyn Park.
"The Minnesota Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement are on the scene.
"We will share more information soon."
More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos
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One of the shootings reportedly took place at the home of Senator John Hoffman Minnesota
Credit: Minnesota Senate

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Manhunt underway for suspect in deadly shooting of Democratic state lawmakers
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Manhunt underway for suspect in deadly shooting of Democratic state lawmakers

Minnesota Police and the FBI kept up a massive manhunt on Saturday evening for a gunman posing as a police officer who killed a senior Democratic state assemblywoman and her husband in what Governor Tim Walz called a "politically motivated assassination." The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, also allegedly shot and wounded a second lawmaker and his spouse, according to law enforcement officials and the FBI. He fled on foot after firing at police at the home of slain former Minnesota House speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Law enforcement officials said the suspect abandoned a vehicle that looked like a police SUV, in which officers found a "manifesto" and a target list of other politicians and institutions. Boelter should be considered armed and dangerous and is believed to still be in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans told a news briefing, adding that it was too soon to determine a motive. The suspect had links to evangelical ministries and claimed to be a security expert with experience in the Gaza Strip and Africa, according to online postings and public records reviewed by Reuters. Boelter also described himself online as a former employee of food service companies and was appointed in 2016 by Mr Walz's predecessor to the advisory Governor's Workforce Development Board, according to state records. David Carlson, 59, told Reuters that he has been sharing a house in Minneapolis with Boelter for a little more than a year and last saw him on Friday night. Then about 6am (11am GMT) on Saturday, he received a text from Boelter. "He said that he might be dead soon," said Mr Carlson, who called police. The list found in the vehicle abandoned by the suspect contained about 70 names, including abortion providers, and lawmakers in Minnesota and other states, CNN reported, citing law enforcement sources. Officials said the Hortmans and the other victims — state Senator John Hoffman and his wife — were on the list. ABC News, also citing law enforcement officials, said the list included dozens of Minnesota Democrats, including Mr Walz, US Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Tina Smith and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. 'Targeted political violence' Melissa Hortman, a 55-year-old mother of two who had served 20 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, was remembered by Mr Walz as someone with "grace, compassion and tirelessness." Mr Walz, who was Kamala Harris' Democratic vice presidential running mate in last year's election, said the gunman went to the Hortmans' residence after shooting the Hoffmans multiple times in their home in the nearby town of Champlin. 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The Minnesota State Patrol chief, Colonel Christina Bogojevic, said police had found flyers in the suspect's vehicle with "No Kings" printed on them but that he had no direct links to the thousands of nationwide "No Kings" protests on Saturday against Mr Trump's policies. The protests were timed to counter Mr Trump's long-sought military parade in Washington. The organising No Kings Coalition cancelled all protests in Minnesota, citing a shelter-in-place order and the suspect's at-large status. Mr Trump said he was briefed on the "terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears to be a targeted attack against State Lawmakers." "Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!" Mr Trump said in a statement. Ms Hortman and her husband were shot dead in their home in Brooklyn Park, Mr Walz said. 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The pre-dawn Minnesota killings come amid a surge in US political attacks in recent years, underscoring the dark side of the nation's deepening political divisions. These include the attempted 2020 kidnapping of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, and a man who broke into Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence in April and set it on fire. In July last year, then-candidate Mr Trump escaped an assassination attempt by a gunman while speaking at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Mr Trump has faced criticism from some opponents over his handling of incidents involving political violence. In one of his first moves in office earlier this year, Mr Trump pardoned nearly everyone criminally charged with participating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Reuters Read More Military parade rolls through Washington as protesters across US decry Trump

Manhunt in Minnesota after Democratic politician killed
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time6 hours ago

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A manhunt is under way for a gunman who shot two Democratic state politicians in Minnesota, killing one and her husband and wounding the other, in what the northern US state's governor said were politically motivated attacks. The shootings came as deep political divisions have riven the United States, the same day that tens of thousands of protestors across the country took to the streets against the policies of Republican President Donald Trump. Authorities named the assailant as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, who was still at large and considered "armed and dangerous." "We believe he's working to potentially flee the (Minneapolis-St Paul) area," Drew Evans, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, told reporters. Mr Evans said authorities were still investigating the suspect's motives, and did not know if additional people were involved in the attacks. Mr Trump and US Attorney General Pam Bondi decried what they called "horrific violence" and said perpetrators would be prosecuted to "the fullest extent of the law." The Federal Bureau of Investigation offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the capture or conviction of Boelter. 'Targeted political violence' State Representative Melissa Hortman - the former speaker - and her husband Mark were killed at their home in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, Governor Tim Walz told an earlier press conference. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot and wounded at their home in nearby Champlin, the governor said, his voice breaking with emotion. "This was an act of targeted political violence," Mr Walz told reporters. "Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don't settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint." Mr Evans said the senator was out of surgery and "in stable condition" but that he had suffered "significant injuries." The state official said Mr Hoffman and his wife were shot first, and as police investigated, Ms Hortman and her husband were shot about 90 minutes later. The gunman was able to escape during an exchange of fire with officers near Ms Hortman's residence, Mr Evans said. Praetorian Guards Security Services, a home security company, described Mr Boelter on its website as its director of security patrols. Impersonating law enforcement In both attacks, authorities believe the assailant impersonated a law enforcement officer. An image of Mr Boelter released by the FBI showed him wearing what appeared to be a life-like latex mask, potentially an attempt to evade identification. An anti-Trump rally in Minneapolis - part of the national wave of "No Kings" protests - was canceled after police issued a shelter-in-place order because of the shootings. Flyers for the protests were found in the suspect's car, as well as a manifesto that named numerous politicians and state officials, police said. Tensions were high across the country, and in Texas authorities said they evacuated the state capitol complex after a "credible threat" towards lawmakers planning to attend a protest there. In Brooklyn Park, where Ms Hortman lived, authorities lifted a shelter-in-place order saying that while the suspect remained at large, there was "reason to believe he is no longer in the area." The United States has been deeply divided since Mr Trump returned to the White House in January. The Republican president has drawn criticism from Democrats over his harsh immigration policy, his assault on universities and the media and a perceived flouting of limits on executive power. "At this precipice moment we're on, this tragic act here in Minnesota should serve as a reminder to all of us," Mr Walz said, lauding democracy as a way to settle differences peacefully. Former US congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who survived a shooting to the head in 2011 and is now a prominent advocate for the prevention of gun violence, described herself as "devastated" by Ms Hortman's death. "We must protect our democracy from those who try to destroy it with a gun," Ms Giffords wrote on X.

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