What Led to the Killing of a Minnesota Lawmaker?

Washington, June 15 (NationPress) A gunman has taken the life of a Minnesota state lawmaker and left another injured in a series of coordinated attacks, marking the first instance of a successful politically motivated killing of state legislators in the modern history of this US Midwestern state.

Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, aged 55, and her husband were shot dead at their residence in Brooklyn Park at 3:35 a.m. local time on Saturday morning, as confirmed by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

State Senator John Hoffman, aged 60, and his wife sustained critical injuries in a separate assault at their home in Champlin at around 2:00 a.m. local time, approximately 13 kilometers away, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.

Governor Walz described the incident as a targeted act of political violence, labeling Hortman's death as a politically motivated assassination.

The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, remains at large despite an extensive manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officers from federal, state, and local agencies. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a reward of $50,000 for any information that may lead to his capture.

Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson described Boelter as standing 1.85 meters tall with brown hair, last seen wearing a light-colored cowboy hat and a dark long-sleeve shirt.

Jacobson warned, “You should consider him armed and dangerous, and you should call 911 immediately.”

Reports of gunfire were received at the Hoffman residence in Champlin. An “intuitive sergeant” directed officers to proactively check on Hortman's home for her safety, as stated by Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley.

Upon arriving at the Hortman residence, officers encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle with flashing emergency lights and a man dressed as a police officer emerging from the house.

The individual immediately opened fire on the officers, who returned fire, prompting the suspect to retreat into the home. The suspect subsequently fled on foot through the back door.

Authorities later found critical evidence in the abandoned fake police vehicle, including a manifesto listing approximately 70 potential targets.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, noted, “There was a list of individuals, and the individuals that were targeted in the situation were on that list.”

Additionally, fliers related to planned “No Kings” protests were discovered in Boelter's vehicle.

Sources have informed multiple news outlets that the target list included prominent pro-choice advocates in Minnesota, including Governor Walz, US Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Tina Smith, and State Attorney General Keith Ellison, according to ABC News.

Boelter's background reveals alarming professional credentials. He served as director of security patrols at a private security company and had experience working in conflict zones, including the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Southern Lebanon. Most concerning is that he was appointed multiple times to the Governor's Workforce Development Board, granting him insider knowledge of state operations.

The suspect employed sophisticated tactics during the attacks. Sources indicated to ABC News that Boelter used realistic latex masks during the shootings and a fake police SUV equipped with emergency lights, sirens, and law enforcement gear to gain access to the victims' homes.

On Saturday morning, Brooklyn Park Police issued a shelter-in-place order for residents within a 4.8-kilometer radius of Edinburgh Golf Course, advising them not to open doors for solitary police officers and to call 911 to verify any officer's identity. The order was lifted at 3:30 p.m. local time after authorities determined the suspect was no longer in the area.

US President Donald Trump condemned the shootings as “horrific violence” and stated that US Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI would ensure prosecution of “anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law,” as reported in a White House statement.

Hortman served as Minnesota House Speaker from 2019 to 2025 and was the leading Democratic figure in the chamber. Her assassination has left the Minnesota House evenly split at 67-67 between Democrats and Republicans. Hoffman, first elected in 2012, chaired the State Senate Human Services Committee.

All Minnesota state lawmakers have been placed under protective custody as the investigation proceeds. Authorities have warned that the suspect remains armed with a pistol and should not be approached.

Officials have urged citizens to avoid attending numerous planned “No Kings” protests across the state as a precaution. Nonetheless, thousands reportedly gathered in St. Paul, Minnesota's capital, on Saturday.