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Indianapolis Star
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
Manhunt underway for Vance Luther Boelter in Minnesota lawmakers shooting
Authorities say a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband were killed and another lawmaker and his wife were injured at their homes by a man impersonating law enforcement in what Gov. Tim Walz called a 'politically motivated assassination.' Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Vance Luther Boelter, 57. Officials on Saturday afternoon said they were still searching for Boelter, who was last seen in the Twin Cities area. They considered him armed and dangerous. Earlier on Saturday, authorities said they were searching for a suspect who impersonated law enforcement to gain access to the victims' homes, exchanged gunfire with police and fled on foot outside Minneapolis. Asked by reporters for his reaction to the Minnesota shooting, President Donald Trump replied, "Absolutely terrible. Absolutely terrible, and they're looking for that particular man." He spoke from the White House just before getting into his car for the short trip to the viewing stand for the Army parade. "Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!" Trump said. Walz said state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed, and State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot multiple times and wounded in 'targeted shootings' in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, two neighboring suburban cities 10 to 20 miles outside Minneapolis. Walz said Hoffman and his wife were out of surgery and officials expected them to survive. Hoffman and Hortman are both members of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) is a political party exclusive to Minnesota that was formed in 1944 when the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party merged.) Hortman was Speaker-Emerita of the House of Representatives, which is narrowly controlled by Republicans. House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Minnesota Republican, said she was devastated by Hortman's loss. "She was respected by everyone at the Capitol as a formidable advocate for her values and her caucus," Demuth said in a statement. "She battled fiercely, but never let it impact the personal bond that we developed serving as caucus leaders." Multiple people had been detained for questioning but no one was in custody as of Saturday evening, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. Bruley said the shooter impersonated a police officer, complete with an SUV that appeared similar to real police vehicles, a vest, outfit and equipment. The shooter knocked on the victims' doors and used the ruse to "manipulate their way into the home," Bruley said. Minnesota 'No Kings': Protests canceled after two lawmakers shot, 1 killed Officials said they were still searching for Vance Luther Boelter, the 57-year-old suspect accused of shooting state lawmakers. Described as a white man who is 6 feet, 1 inch tall, Boelter was last seen Saturday morning in Minneapolis, according to Drew Evans, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. In an image shared by law enforcement officials, he was wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, dark-colored long sleeve shirt or coat and carrying a dark bag. Officials suspect he's still in the Twin Cities area, though he may be trying to leave the area. Evans said Boelter should be considered as armed and dangerous and urged members of the public to call 911. It's unclear whether additional people were involved in the shooting, Evans said. An FBI wanted poster shows a photo from one of the attacks that appears to show the gunman was wearing a latex mask. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has officially named Boelter as a suspect in the case, although he is not yet charged with any crime. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Boelter. Boelter is a St. Cloud State University graduate, according to SCSU spokesperson Zach Dwyer. Boelter wrote on his LinkedIn page that he was the CEO of a company called "Red Lion Group" and that he has traveled to Congo and several other countries, but those claims have not been confirmed. Boelter is also listed on a homemade web site of a company called Praetorian Guard Security Services, which lists him as director of security patrols. The website describes him as involved with 'security situations' overseas, including Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The website described him as also having worked for a large oil refining company, a large food company based in Switzerland, and a large convenience retailer brand, based in Japan. None of those jobs or details could be confirmed independently on Saturday. On his LinkedIn profile, Boelter claimed to work as the general manager for a 7-Eleven location in Minneapolis from April 2016 to November 2021; a general manager at Greencore in Shakopee, Minnesota from July 2011 to April 2016; a Del Monte production system manager from April 2008 to July 2011 in Minnesota; an operations leader at Johnsonville Sausage from March 2004 to April 2008; and a supervisor at Gerber from February 1999 to March 2004. Last month he posted on LinkedIn that he was looking to "get back into the U.S. food industry," and that he is "pretty open to positions." In 2019, Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz named Boelter and dozens of others to his Governor's Workforce Development Board, which according to the governor's web site assists the Governor in "developing, implementing, and modifying the State plan, review of statewide policies and programs, providing recommendations on actions to align and improve the workforce development system and programs," and other state matters. The governor's web site listed Boelter as a "business and industry representative." His appointment was effective from December 2019 to January 2023, according to the site. A spokesperson for Walz said the governor's office appoints thousands of people of all parties to boards and commissions. The workforce development board has over 60 people on it. They are unpaid, external boards created by the legislature, and Walz doesn't interview applicants, the spokesperson said. They aren't appointments to a position in the governor's cabinet, the spokesperson said. The shootings come as about 2,000 "No Kings Day" demonstrations around the country are planned to protest against the Trump administration. Authorities found papers with "No Kings" written on them in the back seat of the suspect's vehicle, Col. Christina Bogojevic with the Department of Public Safety said. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety asked people in Minnesota to stay home from all planned demonstrations on Saturday, Gov. Tim Walz said. "Out of an abundance of caution my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended," he said. There was no evidence that there was a specific threat to the "No Kings" rallies, but Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said authorities were sharing the information about the papers found so the public remains informed. Planned "No Kings" protests in Minnesota were canceled to adhere with guidance from state officials, according to a statement from the coalition that organized the events. Given the targeted shootings of state lawmakers overnight, we are asking the public to not attend today's planned demonstrations across Minnesota out of an abundance of caution. Elected officials have described the shootings as a 'politically motivated assassination,' though law enforcement officials were still searching for clues behind the shooter's motives. 'This individual did this to instill fear into our community,' Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston said in a briefing Saturday afternoon. 'But they also wanted to create a distinct and singular point of view.' Inside the suspect's car, police found a 'manifesto,' including a list of other lawmakers, and papers saying 'No Kings,' which officials said was an apparent reference to ongoing protests around the country. Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said it was still premature to say what the motive was behind his writings. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said additional police resources have been used to check on the safety of public officials who may be at risk. Other police are actively participating in the search, he said in a Saturday Facebook post. 'Political violence is evil,' Frey said. 'It cannot be tolerated, and neither can those who condone it or make excuses for it.' Minneapolis, the largest city in the state, is located just south of Brooklyn Park and Champlin, where the shootings occurred. St. Paul, located next to Minneapolis, is the state's capital. Hoffman and Hortman are both members of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Hoffman, 60, and his wife Yvette have one child and live in Champlin, according to his lawmaker profile. He was first elected in 2012. Hortman and her husband Mark have two children and live in Brooklyn Park, according to her profile. She was elected in 2004. Hortman served the people of Minnesota with compassion and grace, Gov. Tim Walz said. 'Our state lost a great leader and I lost the dearest of friends, Walz said. "She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place.' U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat who represents Minnesota, said she was "heartbroken" by the Hortmans' deaths. "Melissa was a good friend and we started in politics at the same time and were always there for each other. She was a true public servant to the core, dedicating her life to serving Minnesotans with integrity and compassion," Klobuchar said in a post to X. "This is a dark day today for Minnesota and for democracy, but we will not allow fear or violence to define who we are or how we move forward. We will stand together, we will stand strong," Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said. 'I cannot emphasize enough that this is not ok. Any type of against elected officials is not ok. Any type of violence against other people is not ok,' nearby Mounds View Mayor Zach Lindstrom said in a post. Officials say the shootings unfolded in the early morning hours Saturday. At about 2 a.m., authorities were called to respond to a report of a shooting in Champlin at Hoffman's home, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said at the news conference. The Hoffmans had been shot and wounded and were transported to a hospital, where they underwent surgery. "The Hoffmans are out of surgery at this time and receiving care, and we are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt," Gov. Tim Walz said. While law enforcement was responding at the Hoffman home, police in neighboring Brooklyn Park, who were helping on the scene, decided to proactively check on Hortman, Bruley said. When they arrived at Hortman's home, they saw what appeared to be a police vehicle with lights on and encountered a man dressed as an officer coming out of the home. The suspect shot at the officers, who returned fire, and then the suspect went back into the home and is believed to have fled on foot out a back door, Bruley said. Bruley said the suspect impersonated a police officer, complete with an SUV that is identical to real police vehicles, a vest, outfit and equipment. The suspect knocked on the victims' doors and used the ruse to "manipulate their way into the home," Bruley said. "It was not a real police officer," he said. "No question if they were in this room, you would assume they are a police officer." Hortman and her husband were both shot to death, officials said. Thousands of people were sheltering in place in the area as a massive search for the suspect unfolds, authorities said Saturday morning. Residents should not answer their doors to anyone claiming to be a police officer without first calling 911 to confirm their identity, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. Officers have been instructed to only approach people in pairs, so a single police officer knocking on someone's door would be a red flag, he said. Gov. Tim Walz said earlier Saturday morning he was briefed on 'targeted shootings' and had activated the State Emergency Operations Center in response. The Brooklyn Park Police Department issued an early morning shelter-in-place alert for a 3-mile radius around the Edinburgh Golf Course, the city of Brooklyn Park said in a post to Facebook. Law enforcement agencies including SWAT teams are conducting grid searches of the area for the suspect on Saturday. "We want to reassure the public that there is increased security in place for elected officials and others who may be at risk," Jacobson said.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Who is the man wanted in the Minnesota lawmaker assaults? What we know
Minnesota authorites say they believe it was Boelter who impersonated law enforcement to gain access to the victims' homes, exchanged gunfire with police and fled on foot outside Minneapolis. 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 6 a.m. on Saturday, he received a text from Boelter. "He said that he might be dead soon," said Carlson, who called police. Carlson, who has known Boelter since fourth grade, said Boelter worked for an eye donation center and stayed at the house because it was close to his job. Carlson said he feels betrayed by Boelter and heartbroken for the victims, adding: "His family has got to suffer through this." The cryptic message sent to his roommate is just one of many unanswered questions surrounding Boelter. Officials have described the attacks as a politically motivated assassination. Boelter, who is considered armed and dangerous, is being sought by authorities following the "targeted shootings" at lawmakers' homes in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, two neighboring suburban cities. The shootings killed state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, while wounding State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Both lawmakers are members of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said the suspect exchanged gunfire with police and fled on foot outside of Minneapolis. Bruley added that the suspect also had an SUV that is identical to real police vehicles, as well as an official-looking vest, outfit and equipment. Boelter lived just outside of Green Isle, a Minnesota city of around 600 people that's about an hour southwest of the Twin Cities, Mayor Shane Sheets told USA TODAY. Green Isle is a small community, Sheets said. Boelter had no known political involvement or affiliation in the city, he said. Online, Boelter presented himself as a security expert who had also worked for global companies. A LinkedIn page believed to belong to him showed he attended St. Cloud State University. University spokesperson Zach Dwyer confirmed Boelter graduated in 1996. He also appeared as a speaker for a Minnesota nonprofit serving African immigrant communities. Minnesota Africans United, a Brooklyn Park nonprofit, said in a statement that Boelter participated in an August 2022 virtual webinar about trade and investment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Boelter's participation as a speaker was facilitated by a third-party, the statement said. He was never hired, paid or contracted by the nonprofit, which had no contact with him since the one-time appearance. A biography for the session described Boelter as having worked in Congo and for a security guard company. In 2019, Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz named Boelter to his Governor's Workforce Development Board. The governor's website said the board assists in "developing, implementing, and modifying the State plan, review of statewide policies and programs, providing recommendations on actions to align and improve the workforce development system and programs," among other matters. The governor's website listed Boelter as a "business and industry representative." His appointment was effective from December 2019 to January 2023, according to a notice. A spokesperson for Walz said the governor's office appoints thousands of people of all parties to boards and commissions. The workforce development board has over 60 people on it. They are unpaid, external boards created by the legislature, and Walz doesn't interview applicants, the spokesperson said. They aren't appointments to a position in the governor's cabinet, the spokesperson said. Praetorian Guard Security Services, a residential armed home security company in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, listed Boelter as director of security patrols for the company, according to its website. The company offered licensed armed security patrols, uniformed security and event security, with the latter service coming soon. "We drive the same make and model of vehicles that many police departments use in the U.S.," the website said. "Currently we drive Ford Explorer Utility Vehicles." An email and phone call to Praetorian was not immediately returned Saturday. Officials said the suspect's SUV appeared to look like a police vehicle when officers responded. In the SUV, police found writings listing the names of other officials and papers saying "No Kings," an apparent reference to ongoing protests across the United States. The state Department of Public Safety had requested people in Minnesota to stay home from all planned demonstrations on Saturday, Gov. Tim Walz said. In a post last month, the LinkedIn account believed to belong to Boelter said he was looking for work in the food industry. Corey Schmidt of The St. Cloud Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, contributed to this report.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
2 Democratic lawmakers shot at in Minnesota homes, Governor says closely monitoring situation
Two lawmakers from Minnesota were shot at in their separate homes, according to local authorities, The Guardian said. The two politicians have been identified as state senator John Hoffman and state representative Melissa Hortman, both members of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the state's Democratic affiliate. The incidents took place in the Minneapolis suburbs of Champlin and Brooklyn Park in the early hours of Saturday morning, according to local news reports. There is currently no confirmed information about the person responsible. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a statement saying he had been briefed about the 'ongoing situation'. He added that he was closely monitoring developments and a press conference was expected later in the day. 'We're aware of the incidents in Champlin and Brooklyn Park and will provide further details as soon as possible,' the Governor's office said in a statement. The motives behind the attacks are not yet clear, and there has been no official indication as to whether the shootings were politically motivated. These events come as concerns around political violence in the United States continue to grow. According to a University of Chicago survey cited by The Guardian, while instances of political violence have increased in recent years, most Americans do not support such actions. Authorities have not yet released information about the lawmakers' condition or whether the shootings are believed to be linked. Local police are continuing their investigations in both neighbourhoods. The upcoming press briefing is expected to provide further details about the timeline of events, possible links between the attacks, and the security response. This is a developing story and more details are awaited
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Brooklyn Park shooting: Major warning issued for ‘No Kings Day' protestors as Minnesota Democrats shot at homes
A madman who reportedly pretended to be a police officer shot two state lawmakers in Minnesota in their houses on Saturday. As the armed man is still at large, officials have issued a warning for the 'No Kings Day' protestors and other netizens. According to sources who spoke to 5 Eyewitness News, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman was shot in her Brooklyn Park home, and Sen. John Hoffman, a fellow party member, was targeted in Champlin, some eight miles away. There have also been reports of that the Minnesota Democrats were shot along with their spouses A manhunt has been launched for the suspect, who was dressed in blue pants and a blue shirt with black body armor. According to BNO News, the violence started in John Hoffman's house at around 2 am. He was shot several times. The suspect later proceeded to Melissa Hortman's house. Authorities have not yet confirmed that the politicians were the victims of the incident, and it is still unclear how many people were injured. In a 5:30 a.m. emergency alert, Brooklyn Park Police stated that they were searching for "a dangerous and armed suspect" involved in multiple targeted shootings. 'Suspect is white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement.' At 7 a.m., a second emergency alert was issued stating, "Do not approach and do not answer door unless two officers approach together," indicating that the suspect was dressed like a cop. People have been asked to call 911 to identify the officer identity first. Officers issued an order to shelter in place for the three miles around Melissa Hoffman's house, which is the Edinburgh Golf Course. Meanwhile, Mounds View Mayor Zach Lindstrom took to X to confirm about the shooting. 'I'm just learning of the events that took place last night due to getting a safety alert for elected officials. I never thought we'd be here. My prayers are with the Hortman, and Hoffman families. I hope everyone comes out of this ok. I cannot emphasize enough that this is not ok. Any type of violence against elected officials is not ok. Any type of violence against other people is not ok. My understanding is that its someone cos-playing as a officer and they haven't been caught,' Lindstrom wrote. 'For those going out to protest today please do it safely and if something looks off say something we do not need anyone else to get hurt.'
Fox News
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Minnesota state lawmaker calls bill keeping males out of girls' sports 'state-sanctioned genocide'
A Minnesota state representative insisted that a bill keeping trans athletes out of girls' and women's sports was "state-sanctioned genocide" during a hearing on Monday. During arguments for the Preserve Women's Sports Act in the Minnesota House of Representatives, Rep. Alicia Kozlowski, of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, made remarks that have since gone viral and incited backlash for her labeling of the bill as "genocide." "Members, make no mistake that this is just another version of state-sanctioned bullying and genocide," Kozlowski said. "And I don't say that lightly." Footage of Kozlowski's comments have spread across various social media platforms, prompting harsh responses. One user on X directed critics to the representative's profile on the platform on Monday. However, by Tuesday afternoon, Kozlowski's X account had been deactivated. It is not even the first time in the last two weeks that a state Democrat lawmaker deactivated their X account after facing backlash for an aggressive push to protect trans inclusion in girls' sports. Ryan Fecteau, the Maine House of Representatives' Democratic speaker, deleted his X account last Thursday, just days after censuring Republican Rep. Laurel Libby. Libby was censured by the Democratic majority Tuesday evening for a recent social media post pointing out that a transgender high school athlete won a girls' competition. The censure resolution passed by a 75-70 vote and revoked Libby's speaking and voting privileges. Meanwhile, Fecteau's Facebook and Bluesky accounts were flooded with angry comments from users who condemned the censure, and supported Libby. And like Fecteau, Kozlowski has been bombarded with angry comments on her other social media accounts that are still active. The most recent post on Kozlowski's Instagram account alone already has more comments than any other post on her profile. "You should look up the word genocide and educate yourself before you use it lightly," one user wrote. Another user commented, "Why do you hate girls having fair competition? Biological males 100% of the time will have an advantage… It's literally in their DNA, which can't be changed. You know own, science and all that." Kozlowski was one of the 66 Democrats who voted against the bill, keeping it one vote shy of reaching the necessary 68-vote threshold for passage. The act stated that "only female students may participate in an elementary or secondary school level athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted to women and girls." "Female means a female as biologically determined by genetics and defined with respect to an individual's reproductive system," the bill states. In contrast with Kozlowski, many Republicans spoke in favor of the ball, citing the desire to protect women's spaces from biological males. "We cannot allow our girls to be vulnerable to losing their spot on the team, being on the podium, or to injury by a male teammate or male competitor," said state Rep. Peggy Scott. "That is not safe and that is not fair to our girls." Former Minnesota Vikings player Jack Brewer joined Riley Gaines at the Minnesota state Capitol on Monday to support the bill. Brewer told Fox News Digital last week that he believed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was "disgusting" for continuing to allow biological males in girls' sports in the state. "It's absolutely disgusting, and it's why, when you see him and you see his mannerisms and the way he carries himself, you know this guy doesn't appeal to real men and boys who have battled it out on the gridiron, man. I have nothing in common with this guy," Brewer said. "I think he's a disgrace to the football world to be honest." The Minnesota State High School League is one of many state scholastic conferences that announced it would continue letting trans athletes participate in girls' sports, defying President Donald Trump's recent executive order to prevent it. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, though, wrote a letter late last month warning of the consequences of not passing the "Preserving Girls' Sports Act." "The Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights has begun a Title IX investigation into the Minnesota State High School League," the letter from Bondi read. "If the Department of Education's investigation shows that relevant Minnesota entities are indeed denying girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by requiring them to compete against boys, the Department of Justice stands ready to take all appropriate action to enforce federal law." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
