Last Updated:
Two US lawmakers – Senator John Hoffman and Representative Melissa Hortman – as well as their spouses, were shot in overnight shootings in Champlin and Brooklyn.
Vance Luther Boelter (L) is accused of fatally shooting Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman (R) at her home. (X)
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.
The FBI offers a reward of up to $50,000 for info leading to the arrest and conviction of Vance L. Boelter, suspected of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses at their residences on June 14, 2025: pic.twitter.com/tZ9RE97OHk— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) June 14, 2025
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.
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
- First Published:
