Police are searching for 57-year-oldĀ Vance Boelter, the suspect in the killing of a Minnesota lawmaker and the shooting of another. The shooting occurred early Saturday morning. As of Sunday morning, the suspect was still at large.
State Rep. Melissa HortmanĀ ā the top Democrat in the Minnesota House ā and her husband were shot and killed in an apparent āpolitically motivated assassination,ā according to Gov. Tim Walz.
Boelter is also suspected of shootingĀ Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, who survived the shooting and have undergone surgery. Yvette HoffmanĀ saved her daughter Hopeās lifeĀ by throwing herself on top of her, a relative told CNN affiliate KARE.
Hereās what we know:
- The attacks:Ā Police responded to a shooting at Hoffmanās address at around 2 a.m. and were still investigating the scene when, at 3:35 a.m., officers who went to check on Hortman, about 9 miles away, encountered the suspect coming out of her house and exchanged gunfire with him before he escaped.
- Suspect impersonated officer:Ā The suspect was dressedĀ like a police officerĀ when he came out of Hortmanās home. He had also been driving what appeared to be a police car. Investigators are looking into whether the suspect wore aĀ latex face maskĀ during the shootings, a law enforcement official told CNN.
- Found in the car:Ā Police found writings that includedĀ a hit list of nearly 70 namesĀ in the car. Those named are mostly Democrats or figures with ties to abortion rights, including Minnesota lawmakers Rep. Ilhan Omar and Sen. Tina Smith. Boelter also had survival gear in the vehicle.
- Boelterās job:Ā Boelterās employment status was unclear. According to his companyās website, heĀ worked in security services. The company advertised a fleet of āpolice type vehiclesā and other equipment that could have aided him in impersonating law enforcement. The company was registered to Boelterās home address and listed a woman who is apparently his wife as president and CEO.
- What his friend said:Ā David Carlson, a friend of Boelter,Ā told CNNĀ the suspect was having financial problems and struggling to find work. Carlson also told CNN affiliate KARE that he texted his friends in the lead up to the shootings to warn them he wasĀ āgonna be gone for a whileā and āmay be dead shortly.ā
- Link to victim:Ā Boelter served on a state board with Hoffman. In 2019, Walz put him on the Governorās Workforce Development Board ā a group of business owners who recommend policies to the state government. Itās unclear how closely Boelter and Hoffman interacted in that role, if at all.
- Hunt underway:Ā Authorities believe the suspect is no longer in the area. Photos of Boelter have been sent out to border patrol personnel in case he tries to flee into Canada.
- FBI reward:Ā President Donald Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI are leading the investigation. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information āleading to the arrest and convictionā of Boelter.
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Author: Joe Weber
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