Who Is Vance Boelter? What We Know About Suspect in Democrat Assassination
Law enforcement sources have identified 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter as the suspect in the targeted shooting of two Minnesota state lawmakers early Saturday morning, according to the Associated Press.
The attacks killed state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in their Brooklyn Park home, while state Senator John Hoffman and his wife remain hospitalized in critical condition after being shot in Champlin. The suspect impersonated a police officer during the attacks, wearing official-looking gear including a vest, badge, and equipment.
The attacks began around 2 a.m. local time at Hoffman's residence, followed by the fatal shooting at Hortman's home at approximately 3:35 a.m. When officers arrived at Hortman's residence to conduct a welfare check, they encountered someone dressed as a police officer exiting the home.
"When our officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gun fire," Brooklyn Park police chief Mark Bruley said during a press conference on Saturday. "The individual then escaped, believed to have escaped outside the back of the house. Bruley also noted that the suspect drove a vehicle that "looked exactly like an SUV squad car."
Investigators also found "No Kings" protest flyers in the suspect's vehicle, prompting authorities to cancel planned demonstrations across the state as a precautionary measure.
Hortman, first elected in 2004, served as House Speaker from 2019 to 2025 and was the current Democratic leader in the legislature. Hoffman, representing District 34 since 2013, previously served on the Anoka Hennepin School Board.
The suspect remains at large, with Brooklyn Park under an active shelter-in-place order while hundreds of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies conduct an intensive manhunt.
Police have issued unusual safety warnings, advising residents not to open doors to lone officers and noting that "licensed officers are working in pairs." Enhanced security has been deployed to protect officials named on the target list, while Governor Tim Walz has advised against attending political rallies until the suspect is captured.
The FBI continues coordinating with state and local authorities as the investigation develops.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
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