FBI launches manhunt, $50,000 award for information on Minnesota suspect

The Hill

11 hours ago

Minnesota law enforcement officials have identified the suspect in the deadly shooting of state Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband as Vance Boelter, 57.
The FBI has launched a manhunt for Boelter and a $50,000 award is being offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction in in the killing of Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife.
'Anyone with information about these shootings or Boelter's location should call the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) tip line at 877-996-6222 or email [e-mail],' the Minnesota state office said.
It also warned members of the public to be cautious and to not seek to contact Boelter.
'The public is asked to call 911 immediately if they see Boelter. Do not approach him,' the release said.
'The FBI, BCA, Brooklyn Park Police Department and Champlin Police Department along with other local and state law enforcement officials continue searching for Boelter,' it said.
Boelter is 6'1'' and weighs around 220 pounds, law authorities said.
He is a white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen Saturday morning wearing a 'light colored' cowboy hat and a 'dark colored' long-sleeved collared shirt, according to Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
'We still don't know if additional people are involved, but this individual is the one that we're looking as a person of interest right now, but there may be other people with him, and we would like to speak to anybody that may have had contact with him at any point in time,' Evans said during a press briefing on Saturday.
Authorities found a long list of potential targets in Boelter's car, including officials who represent the entire state of Minnesota.
The suspect's list was said to have featured 'prominent pro-choice individuals in Minnesota, including many Democratic lawmakers who have been outspoken about pro-choice policy positions,' an official who has seen the list told The Hill's sister network NewsNation.
The suspect's vehicle had fliers that were referring to the 'No Kings' protest.
Boelter, who is the director of security patrols at Praetorian Guard Security Services, was appointed by former Gov. Mark Dayton (D) to the state's Governor's Workforce Development Council, according to state records. He was then appointed by Gov. Tim Walz (D) as a member of the Governor's Workforce Development Board. His term ended in early 2023.
The attack was condemned by lawmakers across the political spectrum and they said that political violence 'will not be tolerated' in the United States. President Trump was briefed on the shootings.
'Horrified at the events unfolding in Minnesota. Kimberley and I are praying for the loved ones of the state lawmaker and her husband who were assassinated and the state senator and his wife who were also injured in this assassination attempt,' Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said.