Police hunting gunman who shot US Democrats
Police are conducting a massive manhunt in the US city of Minneapolis for the gunman who killed a senior Democratic while posing as a police officer, a crime that Governor Tim Walz characterised as a "politically motivated assassination".
The suspect, whom police identified as Vance Luther Boelter, 57, fled on foot early on Saturday when officers confronted him at the Brooklyn Park home of state Representative Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, who were both killed.
The gunman earlier had shot and wounded another Democratic lawmaker, state Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette at their home a few kilometres away.
Minnesota US Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, said on NBC's Meet the Press with Kristen Welker on Sunday that investigators believe Boelter is still in the region.
Authorities in Sibley County, about an hour by car southwest of Minneapolis, issued an alert on Sunday saying they had found the suspect's car in Faxon Township and instructing residents to keep their doors and cars locked, the county sheriff's office confirmed. Officers were searching residences in the area.
The location of the car is about 6.4km east of Boelter's listed home address in Green Isle, also in Sibley County, which was searched by law enforcement officers on Saturday.
The gunman had left behind a vehicle outside Hortman's house in suburban Minneapolis that resembled a police SUV, including flashing lights, and contained a target list of other politicians and institutions, officials said.
Authorities had not publicly identified a specific motive as of Saturday evening.
Boelter has 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.
The Minnesota Star Tribune, citing law enforcement officials, reported the target list included abortion providers and several dozen Minnesota Democrats, including Walz, who was also the Democratic vice presidential candidate last year, and Klobuchar, a 2020 presidential candidate.
"There clearly was some through line with abortion, because of the groups that were on the list. So that was one of his motivations," Klobuchar said.
The killing was the latest in a series of high-profile episodes of US political violence, including the attack on former Democratic US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband at their home in 2022, the attempted assassination of Donald Trump during last year's presidential campaign, and an arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's house in April.
Klobuchar said both Hoffmans were "hanging in there" after undergoing surgery for multiple gunshot wounds. The Star Tribune reported the two are awake and recovering.
The attacks started around 2am on Saturday, when authorities said the gunman shot the Hoffmans in their home in Champlin before driving several kilometres to Hortman's home in Brooklyn Park.
The FBI released photos of the suspect wearing a rubber mask and a police-like uniform.
Trump has faced criticism from some opponents for using inflammatory rhetoric at times when talking about his political rivals. On Saturday, he said in a statement: "Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America."
In one of his first moves in office earlier this year, Trump pardoned nearly everyone criminally charged with participating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Man arrested over fatal shooting of US politician and her husband
The suspect in the fatal shooting of a Minnesota politician and her husband, as well as the wounding of another politician and his wife, has been captured. Vance Boelter is in custody after a manhunt that lasted more than a day, law enforcement said on Saturday night local time. 'The face of evil. After relentless and determined police work, the killer is now in custody,' the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt was in tears as she confirmed Boelter's arrest in a phone call with NBC News. She said there was 'so much relief,' and confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody peacefully at 9.12pm, with no injuries to him or the officers involved. Boelter is accused of fatally shooting state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as injuring Senator John Hoffman and his wife in a second shooting. Officials say the suspected gunman impersonated law enforcement, wearing a vest, a blue long-sleeve shirt, and what appeared to be a badge to gain access to the legislators' homes. Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, and her husband, Mark, were killed in 'what appeared to be a politically motivated assassination,' Governor Tim Walz said at an earlier news conference. Hoffman, of Champlin, and his wife, Yvette, were severely injured. They remain hospitalised, and their conditions were not immediately available. Both lawmakers were members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. Their homes are located about eight miles (13km) apart, in the suburbs north of Minneapolis. 'This was an act of targeted political violence,' Walz said. 'Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don't settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint.' In a video circulating online, Boelter introduces himself as a married father of five from Green Isle, Minnesota, who works for two funeral homes—Wulff Funeral Home and Metro First Call—handling what he called 'removals.' 'Fun fact about myself: I've been in the food industry about 30 years, and that led to an opportunity. I was invited to the Democratic Republic of Congo,' he said in the video, adding that he worked with Del Monte Foods and Minnesota-based chicken producer Gold'n Plump. In a 2022 video posted to Facebook and verified by NBC News, Minnesota Africans United featured a person introduced as Vance Boelter during a discussion about trade and investment opportunities in the DRC. As a keynote presenter, Boelter said he was calling from the Congo and spoke about partnering with farmers and fishermen to help stimulate the country's food supply system. Boelter had a notebook with an alleged list of potential targets, authorities said, but he had not made threats against anyone on the list, as far as investigators know. The list featured Hortman and the injured Hoffman near the very top, according to Democratic Party executive Ron Harris. It also included other state elected officials and individuals known for supporting abortion rights, sources familiar with the investigation said. Investigators have not found evidence that Boelter previously threatened anyone on the list, said Drew Evans, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. 'So far, we have not located any prior threats by this individual toward anybody on that list,' Evans said. 'That will obviously be part of a deeper dive to really understand the motivation of this individual and any related connections—whether they might be here or in other parts of the United States.' Authorities believe Boelter acted alone, although they are not definitively ruling out the possibility that he may have had help. NBC News previously obtained several photos believed to show Boelter at the home of at least one victim. Two of the photos depict a man at a front door wearing a long-sleeve shirt and what appears to be a vest similar to those worn by law enforcement. One of the photos appears to match an image released by the FBI on X, showing a man at the door in a closer, less pixelated shot. It appears the man may have been wearing a mask or bald cap, based on visible creases on his face. The shootings are the latest in a string of seemingly lone-wolf politically motivated attacks. Last year, there were two assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump during his 2024 campaign. The first occurred at a rally in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, in July, when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot dead by a Secret Service sharpshooter after attempting to kill Trump. In a separate incident, Ryan Routh, 59, was charged with attempted assassination after being found camping with a firearm near Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September. He has pleaded not guilty and faces trial later this year. In other acts of violence, in January a soldier detonated a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. In April, a suspect set fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's home over his position on Israel and Palestinians. In May, two Israeli embassy staffers were shot dead outside Washington, DC's Capital Jewish Museum. Also in May, a car bombing outside a California fertility clinic killed one person, inspired by anti-natalist ideologies.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Suspected gunman who shot dead US politician and husband in their home arrested
The suspect in the fatal shooting of a Minnesota politician and her husband, as well as the wounding of another politician and his wife, has been captured. Vance Boelter is in custody after a manhunt that lasted more than a day, law enforcement said on Saturday night local time. 'The face of evil. After relentless and determined police work, the killer is now in custody,' the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt was in tears as she confirmed Boelter's arrest in a phone call with NBC News. She said there was 'so much relief,' and confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody peacefully at 9.12pm, with no injuries to him or the officers involved. Boelter is accused of fatally shooting state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as injuring Senator John Hoffman and his wife in a second shooting. Officials say the suspected gunman impersonated law enforcement, wearing a vest, a blue long-sleeve shirt, and what appeared to be a badge to gain access to the legislators' homes. Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, and her husband, Mark, were killed in 'what appeared to be a politically motivated assassination,' Governor Tim Walz said at an earlier news conference. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Hoffman, of Champlin, and his wife, Yvette, were severely injured. They remain hospitalised, and their conditions were not immediately available. Both lawmakers were members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. Their homes are located about eight miles (13km) apart, in the suburbs north of Minneapolis. 'This was an act of targeted political violence,' Walz said. 'Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don't settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint.' In a video circulating online, Boelter introduces himself as a married father of five from Green Isle, Minnesota, who works for two funeral homes—Wulff Funeral Home and Metro First Call—handling what he called 'removals.' 'Fun fact about myself: I've been in the food industry about 30 years, and that led to an opportunity. I was invited to the Democratic Republic of Congo,' he said in the video, adding that he worked with Del Monte Foods and Minnesota-based chicken producer Gold'n Plump. In a 2022 video posted to Facebook and verified by NBC News, Minnesota Africans United featured a person introduced as Vance Boelter during a discussion about trade and investment opportunities in the DRC. As a keynote presenter, Boelter said he was calling from the Congo and spoke about partnering with farmers and fishermen to help stimulate the country's food supply system. Boelter had a notebook with an alleged list of potential targets, authorities said, but he had not made threats against anyone on the list, as far as investigators know. Suspected gunman Vance Boelter. Credit: NBC The list featured Hortman and the injured Hoffman near the very top, according to Democratic Party executive Ron Harris. It also included other state elected officials and individuals known for supporting abortion rights, sources familiar with the investigation said. Investigators have not found evidence that Boelter previously threatened anyone on the list, said Drew Evans, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. 'So far, we have not located any prior threats by this individual toward anybody on that list,' Evans said. 'That will obviously be part of a deeper dive to really understand the motivation of this individual and any related connections—whether they might be here or in other parts of the United States.' Authorities believe Boelter acted alone, although they are not definitively ruling out the possibility that he may have had help. NBC News previously obtained several photos believed to show Boelter at the home of at least one victim. Two of the photos depict a man at a front door wearing a long-sleeve shirt and what appears to be a vest similar to those worn by law enforcement. A photograph of Senator Melissa Hortman and her husband at a memorial outside of the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on Sunday. Credit: NBC One of the photos appears to match an image released by the FBI on X, showing a man at the door in a closer, less pixelated shot. It appears the man may have been wearing a mask or bald cap, based on visible creases on his face. The shootings are the latest in a string of seemingly lone-wolf politically motivated attacks. Last year, there were two assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump during his 2024 campaign. The first occurred at a rally in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, in July, when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot dead by a Secret Service sharpshooter after attempting to kill Trump. In a separate incident, Ryan Routh, 59, was charged with attempted assassination after being found camping with a firearm near Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September. He has pleaded not guilty and faces trial later this year. In other acts of violence, in January a soldier detonated a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. In April, a suspect set fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's home over his position on Israel and Palestinians. In May, two Israeli embassy staffers were shot dead outside Washington, DC's Capital Jewish Museum. Also in May, a car bombing outside a California fertility clinic killed one person, inspired by anti-natalist ideologies.
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Man arrested over fatal shooting of US politician and her husband
The suspect in the fatal shooting of a Minnesota politician and her husband, as well as the wounding of another politician and his wife, has been captured. Vance Boelter is in custody after a manhunt that lasted more than a day, law enforcement said on Saturday night local time. 'The face of evil. After relentless and determined police work, the killer is now in custody,' the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt was in tears as she confirmed Boelter's arrest in a phone call with NBC News. She said there was 'so much relief,' and confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody peacefully at 9.12pm, with no injuries to him or the officers involved. Boelter is accused of fatally shooting state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as injuring Senator John Hoffman and his wife in a second shooting. Officials say the suspected gunman impersonated law enforcement, wearing a vest, a blue long-sleeve shirt, and what appeared to be a badge to gain access to the legislators' homes. Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, and her husband, Mark, were killed in 'what appeared to be a politically motivated assassination,' Governor Tim Walz said at an earlier news conference. Loading Facebook Embed Hoffman, of Champlin, and his wife, Yvette, were severely injured. They remain hospitalised, and their conditions were not immediately available. Both lawmakers were members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. Their homes are located about eight miles (13km) apart, in the suburbs north of Minneapolis. 'This was an act of targeted political violence,' Walz said. 'Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don't settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint.' Who is Vance Boelter? In a video circulating online, Boelter introduces himself as a married father of five from Green Isle, Minnesota, who works for two funeral homes—Wulff Funeral Home and Metro First Call—handling what he called 'removals.' 'Fun fact about myself: I've been in the food industry about 30 years, and that led to an opportunity. I was invited to the Democratic Republic of Congo,' he said in the video, adding that he worked with Del Monte Foods and Minnesota-based chicken producer Gold'n Plump. In a 2022 video posted to Facebook and verified by NBC News, Minnesota Africans United featured a person introduced as Vance Boelter during a discussion about trade and investment opportunities in the DRC. As a keynote presenter, Boelter said he was calling from the Congo and spoke about partnering with farmers and fishermen to help stimulate the country's food supply system. Boelter had a notebook with an alleged list of potential targets, authorities said, but he had not made threats against anyone on the list, as far as investigators know. The list featured Hortman and the injured Hoffman near the very top, according to Democratic Party executive Ron Harris. It also included other state elected officials and individuals known for supporting abortion rights, sources familiar with the investigation said. Investigators have not found evidence that Boelter previously threatened anyone on the list, said Drew Evans, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. 'So far, we have not located any prior threats by this individual toward anybody on that list,' Evans said. 'That will obviously be part of a deeper dive to really understand the motivation of this individual and any related connections—whether they might be here or in other parts of the United States.' Authorities believe Boelter acted alone, although they are not definitively ruling out the possibility that he may have had help. NBC News previously obtained several photos believed to show Boelter at the home of at least one victim. Two of the photos depict a man at a front door wearing a long-sleeve shirt and what appears to be a vest similar to those worn by law enforcement. One of the photos appears to match an image released by the FBI on X, showing a man at the door in a closer, less pixelated shot. It appears the man may have been wearing a mask or bald cap, based on visible creases on his face. The shootings are the latest in a string of seemingly lone-wolf politically motivated attacks. Last year, there were two assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump during his 2024 campaign. The first occurred at a rally in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, in July, when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot dead by a Secret Service sharpshooter after attempting to kill Trump. In a separate incident, Ryan Routh, 59, was charged with attempted assassination after being found camping with a firearm near Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September. He has pleaded not guilty and faces trial later this year. In other acts of violence, in January a soldier detonated a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. In April, a suspect set fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's home over his position on Israel and Palestinians. In May, two Israeli embassy staffers were shot dead outside Washington, DC's Capital Jewish Museum. Also in May, a car bombing outside a California fertility clinic killed one person, inspired by anti-natalist ideologies.
