Who Is Vance Boelter, Suspect In Minnesota Lawmaker Assassination?
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Two US lawmakers – Senator John Hoffman and Representative Melissa Hortman – as well as their spouses, were shot in overnight shootings in Champlin and Brooklyn.
Authorities and Federal Bureau of Investigation are on a manhunt for 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, who has been identified as the main suspect for allegedly shooting and killing a state representative and shooting and wounding a state senator in a targeted act of violence.
Two US lawmakers – Senator John Hoffman and Representative Melissa Hortman – as well as their spouses, were shot in overnight shootings in Champlin and Brooklyn.
Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman was shot and killed at her Brooklyn Park home. Her husband Mark was shot at the home and died at the hospital. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot and wounded roughly 5 miles away at their home in Champlin.
Who Is Vance Boelter?
According to Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Boelter stands at 6-foot-1, weighs roughly 220 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen Saturday morning in Minneapolis, wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, dark long-sleeve shirt, light pants and carrying a dark bag.
As per the media reports, Boelter's known address is a rural home in Sibley County, near the town of Green Isle.
The FBI released a photo that appeared to show Boelter standing outside of one of the lawmakers' homes, wearing a mask and dressed like a police officer. The FBI said that it would offer a $50,000 reward for information leading to Boelter's arrest and conviction.
Authorities said the suspect was impersonating a police officer while carrying out the attack. Police believed that when the shooter opened fire, he was wearing a latex mask that looked realistic.
Boelter had fliers with the words 'No Kings" in his car, a reference to Saturday's planned protests against the Trump Administration, as well as a 'manifesto" and a list of other politicians' names, said police, who briefly cornered the shooter at Hortman's home before the suspect fled.
According to ABC News, the list included several prominent Democratic figures, such as Governor Tim Walz, Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Tina Smith, and Attorney General Keith Ellison.
CNN further reported that the list also mentioned abortion providers and pro-abortion rights advocates.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said at a news conference that Boelter was armed and dangerous.
Ties to Governor Tim Walz?
According to the New York Post, Boelter was appointed to the Governor's Workforce Development Board in 2019 by Governor Tim Walz. He had previously served on the Governor's Workforce Development Council, appointed in 2016 by then-Governor Mark Dayton. His term ended in January of 2023, according to state records.
It has been reported that Boelter worked as 'Director of Security Patrols" for a private security company in Minnesota. He previously worked as a general manager at a convenience store chain and at a food manufacturer, according to his LinkedIn profile.
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June 15, 2025, 08:16 IST
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'Far left is murderously violent': Is Minnesota shooting suspect Vance Luther Boelter a Democrat?
Vance Luther Boelter worked for Minnesota Dem Governor Tim Walz but his pal says he is a Trump supporter 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter allegedly shot and killed Minnesota politician Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman at their home in Brooklyn Park -- posing as a police officer. A manhunt has been launched while Democrats and Republicans are at odds with the political affiliation of Boelter -- as the killed politicians were Democrats. Roommate says Boelter is a Trump voter According to reports, a roommate of Boelter who knew him from fourth grade claimed that the suspect was a Trump supporter. David Carlson, the friend, claimed to have received the last text message from Boelter which said: "I may be dead shortly. I wish it hasn't gone this way. I don't want to say anything more. You guys don't know anything about this. I love you guys and I am sorry for all the troubles this has caused." The friend, however, said they did not speak about politics lately. — elonmusk (@elonmusk) Elon Musk reacted to the murders and shared an X post writing: 'The far left is murderously violent". The post he had shared reflected on how the left became a "full-blown" domestic terrorist organization. "The left kills the CEO of United Healthcare. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Kills two Israeli ambassadors staffers. Attempts twice to assassinate the President. Doxes and attempts to murder federal ICE agents and Police - all week. And now kills a MN state rep and her husband and injures a Senator and his wife. The left has become a full blown domestic terrorist organization," the post said. Is Boelter a Democrat? The MAGA rejected that Boelter was a Trump supporter and emphasized that he was employed by Governor Tim Walz and there were 'No Kings Day' poster found in his car. "The media wants to gaslight you into thinking the shooter in Minnesota is a Trump supporter. He was appointed by Walz. He was friends with Walz. And he had NO KINGS flyers in his car. No Kings is a violent group and it's no surprise the shooting took place the day the NO KINGS protests kicked off across the country. The organizers of NO KINGS and @GovTimWalz need to be detained by the FBI and interrogated," Trump aide Laura Loomer said.
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Manhunt underway after shooting of Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota
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But footage from local TV stations showed huge crowds of protesters still turned out in state capital St Paul in a demonstration that doubled as a public mourning for Hortman. 'She fought for the people, she stood with people, she was a powerful political leader,' said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in a speech during the protest. 'Melissa proved that you could be a politician and be a good person.' 'Precipice moment' 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 Hortman lived, authorities searching for the suspect lifted a shelter-in-place order Saturday afternoon, saying that there was 'reason to believe he is no longer in the area.' The United States has been deeply divided since Trump returned to the White House in January. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. 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, said she was 'devastated' by Hortman's death. 'We must protect our democracy from those who try to destroy it with a gun,' Giffords wrote on X.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Anti-Trump demonstrators crowd streets, parks to join ‘No Kings' protest; U.S. organizers say millions came
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Peter Varadi, 54, said he voted for Mr. Trump last November for 'economic reasons.' Now, for the first time in his life, he is protesting, waving a Mexican and U.S. combined flag. 'I voted for Donald Trump, and now I regret that, because he's taken this fascism to a new level,' Varadi said. 'It's Latinos now. Who's next? It's gays. Blacks after that. They're coming for everybody.' Even after the formal event ended, the downtown streets were packed with a jubilant crowd as people danced to salsa music and snacked on hot dogs and ice cream bought from vendors, many of whom are Latino immigrants. But the previously calm demonstration turned confrontational as police on horseback moved into the crowd and struck some people with wood rods and batons as they cleared the street in front of the federal building. Marchers in the crowd that stretched for blocks along Fifth Avenue had diverse reasons for coming, including anger over Trump's immigration policies, support for the Palestinian people and outrage over what they said was an erosion of free speech rights. But there were patriotic symbols, too. Leah Griswold, 32, and Amber Laree, 59, who marched in suffragette white dresses, brought 250 American flags to hand out to people in the crowd. 'Our mothers who came out, fought for our rights, and now we're fighting for future generations as well,' Griswold said. Some protesters held signs denouncing Trump while others banged drums. 'We're here because we're worried about the existential crisis of this country and the planet and our species,' said Sean Kryston, 28. Gov. Tim Walz and law enforcement encouraged people not to attend rallies 'out of an abundance of caution' following the shootings of the Democratic state lawmakers. Dozens of events were canceled, but tens of thousands still turned out for demonstrations in Duluth, Rochester and St. Paul, which included a march to the state Capitol. Walz canceled his scheduled appearance at the St. Paul event. Authorities said the suspect had 'No Kings' flyers in his car and writings mentioning the names of the victims as well as other lawmakers and officials, though they could not say if he had any other specific targets. Seda Heng, 29, of Rochester, said she was heartbroken by the shootings, but still wanted to join the rally there. 'These people are trying to do what they can for their communities, for the state, for the nation,' Heng told the Minnesota Star-Tribune. Crowds cheered anti-Trump speakers in Charlotte's First Ward Park before marching, chanting 'No kings. No crowns. We will not bow down." Marchers stretched for blocks, led by a group of people holding a giant Mexican flag and bystanders cheering and clapping along the way. People protest Trump's deployment of the National Guard Jocelyn Abarca, a 21-year-old college student, said the protest was a chance to 'speak for what's right' after mass deportations and Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles. 'If we don't stop it now, it's just going to keep getting worse,' she said. Naomi Mena said she traveled an hour to demonstrate in Charlotte to represent her 'friends and family who sadly can't have a voice out in public now' to stay safe. A rally at the Texas Capitol in Austin went off as planned despite state police briefly shutting down the building and the surrounding grounds after authorities said they received a 'credible threat' to Democratic state lawmakers who were to attend. Dozens of state troopers swarmed through the grounds about four hours before the event, but the area was later opened and the rally started on time. The building remained closed. The Department of Public Safety later said one person was taken into custody 'in connection with the threats made against state lawmakers" after a traffic stop in La Grange, Texas, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) east of Austin. State police did not detail the threat or immediately identify the person, but said there was no additional active threat. A demonstration of hundreds of people opened to 'War Pigs' by Black Sabbath playing over a sound system on the state Capitol lawn in Jackson. 'A lot of stuff that's going on now is targeting people of color, and to see so many folks out here that aren't black or brown fighting for the same causes that I'm here for, it makes me very emotional,' said Tony Cropper, who traveled from Tennessee to attend the protest. Some people wore tinfoil crowns atop their heads. Others held signs inviting motorists to 'Honk if you never text war plans.' Melissa Johnson said she drove an hour-and-a-half to Jackson to protest because 'we are losing the thread of democracy in our country." Earlier in the day, thousands of protesters lined the streets in downtown Portland for several blocks, waving signs as passing cars honked in support. They marched around the city draped in American flags to the beat of drums and music. By late afternoon, a small group of demonstrators amassed across the river to protest in front of an ICE office where three people were arrested Wednesday night after starting a small fire against the building, police said. Federal immigration officers fired tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets in an effort to clear out the remaining protesters in the evening. Some protesters threw water bottles back and tended to each other's wounds. The police department wrote on X that the event was declared a riot. At least two people were detained and taken inside the federal immigration building.
