Authorities in Minnesota are conducting a large-scale manhunt for 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, the suspected gunman in what Governor Tim Walz has described as a “politically motivated assassination” of Democratic state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. The couple was killed early Saturday at their home in Brooklyn Park, near Minneapolis, by a man impersonating a police officer.
Before the fatal shooting at the Hortman residence, Boelter allegedly shot and wounded another Democratic lawmaker, state Senator John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, at their nearby home in Champlin. Both victims remain hospitalised following surgery.
Senator Amy Klobuchar confirmed on Sunday that investigators believe Boelter is still in the region. His vehicle was located in Faxon Township, Sibley County, not far from his registered residence in Green Isle. Local authorities have urged residents to stay indoors and secure their homes as law enforcement continues door-to-door searches.
Police say the suspect left behind a faux police SUV outside the Hortman home, complete with flashing lights. Inside the vehicle, investigators found a “manifesto” and a list of other political figures and institutions potentially targeted. Though a formal motive has not yet been disclosed, officials suggest the writings and affiliations in the document hint at anti-abortion extremism.
According to online records and social media, Boelter has ties to evangelical ministries and has claimed international experience in security operations, including in Gaza and Africa.
The FBI has released surveillance images showing Boelter dressed in a police-style uniform and wearing a rubber mask. A roommate of Boelter’s in Minneapolis reported receiving an alarming message from him early Saturday morning, shortly before the attacks began. “He said that he might be dead soon,” said David Carlson, who then alerted the authorities.
The attack is the latest in a troubling pattern of political violence in the U.S., drawing comparisons to the 2022 assault on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, the attempted assassination of Donald Trump during his last campaign, and the recent arson at Governor Josh Shapiro’s home in Pennsylvania.
Outside the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, a growing memorial honours Hortman, who was widely respected for her dedication to public service and family. Klobuchar, who had seen both victims at a political dinner just hours before the attack, recalled Hortman as “a devoted mother, Girl Scout leader, and a tireless legislator.”
Boelter remains at large, and law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information to come forward. The FBI and local police are continuing the investigation, treating the incident as a targeted act of domestic political violence.
REUTERS/S.S