The FBI has launched a manhunt for 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter after he allegedly shot and killed Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and injured Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Authorities uncovered a target list with names of Democratic politicians associated with abortion rights. A reward of $50,000 is being offered for information leading to Boelter's capture.
Manhunt Expands Beyond Minnesota Following Attack on Lawmakers
Manhunt Expands Beyond Minnesota Following Attack on Lawmakers
A manhunt for the suspect in the shooting deaths of a Minnesota lawmaker and serious injuries to another escalates as authorities search into South Dakota, revealing political motives.
The search for a suspect linked to the deadly attacks on Minnesota lawmakers has continued into a second day, with law enforcement expanding their efforts beyond the state’s borders into South Dakota. Early Saturday morning, state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot dead in their home, while state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, sustained multiple injuries during the same violent incidents.
The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, allegedly posed as a police officer while committing the attacks. In response to the escalating situation, federal authorities have announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Both Hortman and Hoffman were affiliated with Minnesota’s Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, an entity closely aligned with the national Democratic Party.
Senator Hoffman and his wife underwent surgery on Saturday. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed cautious optimism over their recovery following the assassination attempt. “Clearly, this is politically motivated,” stated US Senator Amy Klobuchar during an interview with NBC News, highlighting the deeper implications of the violent acts.
Investigators reported finding a target list in the suspect’s vehicle that included the names of several Democratic officials and abortion providers. Senator Tina Smith, another Minnesota Democrat, confirmed to the press that her name was listed. The FBI has moved to add Boelter to its most wanted list as the investigation continues.
“It is really not about any of us, it is this incredible woman that we lost, Melissa Hortman,” Klobuchar said, reflecting on the community’s loss. The silence of Brooklyn Park, the Hortman residence, was a stark contrast to the heartbreaking news of the attack that has stunned the neighborhood.
Local residents expressed shock at the violence in their typically quiet community. One neighbor recounted how they had received Christmas cards from the Hortmans and highlighted the late representative's rapport with members of both major political parties. As the investigation unfolds, the collective mourning for Representative Hortman echoes throughout Minnesota, as the community grapples with this immense loss amid an ongoing manhunt for justice.
