The suspect in a coordinated pre-dawn shooting rampage that resulted in the deaths of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband in Brooklyn Park, as well as the critically wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in nearby Champlin, has been identified by authorities as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter.
Boelter, who was allegedly dressed as a police officer and wore tactical gear, allegedly entered the Hoffmans’ Champlin residence at approximately 2 a.m., opened fire, and caused them significant injuries. He subsequently drove to Hortman’s residence and fatally shot both her and her husband. Subsequently, he exchanged gunfire with the responding officers before fleeing the scene.
Authorities discovered anti-government “No Kings” literature, a manifesto identifying approximately 70 political figures, and semiautomatic firearms in Boelter’s abandoned vehicle, which was reported to resemble a police SUV. The investigators are of the opinion that the motivation was politically motivated.
Boelter is currently the subject of an extensive manhunt and is perceived as armed and menacing. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information that leads to his capture. The suspect, who is the head of a private security firm and a former appointee to the state workforce commission, is suspected to be in the Twin Cities region.
The incident has been condemned by Governor Tim Walz and other top officials as targeted political violence. They have advised residents to remain in their homes and verify any unsolicited access by self-proclaimed law enforcement.