Ongoing search for the assassin as Minnesota grieves over slain legislator
In the Heart of Minnesota's Twin Cities, a Political Bloodbath Unfolds
Last Saturday, a chilling catastrophe struck the Democratic state legislature in Minnesota's Twin Cities area. The assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman and the attempted assassination of another legislator, John Hoffman, sent shockwaves through the political landscape. The culprit, Vance Boelter, a 57-year-old provocateur, is still on the loose, but local authorities believe he might be attempting to flee the area.
A series of photos, including one taken by a security camera in Minneapolis, have been released, depicting Boelter wearing a cowboy hat. Officials revealed that Boelter was impersonating a police officer and was carrying a chilling list of potential targets, which included politicians, abortion providers, and other prominent figures.
The cowboy-hatted vigilante is believed to have killed Rep. Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounded Sen. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in separate attacks at their suburban residences. The bloody events occurred during a day of national protests against President Trump's policies, striking a nerve in the political community.
Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota poignantly declared that this was an "act of targeted political violence." He emphasized that peaceful dialogue is the foundation of democracy, stating, "We don't settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint."
President Trump issued a brief statement, expressing his distaste for the violence, stating that it would not be tolerated.
The chilling list found in Boelter's vehicle contained approximately 70 potential targets, such as politicians, doctors, community leaders, business magnates, and abortion providers. U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota, was among those listed. Some targets were located in adjacent states, widening the radius of potential danger.
Law enforcement agencies from state, local, and federal departments flooded the area in search of the fugitive. The FBI generously offered a $50,000 reward for any information leading to Boelter's arrest and conviction.
Amidst the manhunt, the Minnesota State Patrol advised against attending political protests on Saturday out of an abundance of caution, as papers with the phrase "No Kings,"—the title of the coordinated demonstrations—were found in Boelter's vehicle. Consequently, some rallies were canceled, but scores of protesters still assembled at the state Capitol in St. Paul, waving American flags and holding signs bearing slogans like "No Kings."
The demonstrators paid tribute to Hortman, a long-standing legislator who served as the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives for six years. Her contributions helped Democrats pass several pivotal policies on abortion rights, marijuana legalization, medical leave, and other issues in 2023 and 2024.
Hoffman, a fourth-term Senate member from Champlin, chairs the Senate's Human Services Committee and advocates for bipartisan collaboration. His home address was publicly listed on the Senate's website.
The Minnesota Legislature's two houses were teetering on a precarious balance, with the House closely divided between Democrats and Republicans before Hortman's death. Democrats had a slim advantage in the Senate.
The shootings occurred mere days after the conclusion of a particularly contentious legislative session. Tensions over party dominance had escalated into a legal dispute, and the narrowly divided statehouse struggled to agree on a two-year budget.
Authorities disclosed some details about the sequence of events, such as the heroics of a police sergeant that led officers to the Hortmans' home. They arrived too late to save the couple, but they engaged the gunman in a shootout, later seizing his vehicle.
During the early hours of June 14, officers from the Champlin Police Department responded to a report of a shooting at a residence in Champlin. They found Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers from Brooklyn Park, a nearby suburb, provided assistance in the emergency response at the Hoffman home. A sergeant from Brooklyn Park grew concerned upon learning that one of the victims was a politician and prompted officers to investigate Hortman's residence. Two Brooklyn Park officers drove to Hortman's home around 3:30 a.m., only to find a vehicle resembling a police car parked in the driveway with its emergency lights on. When they approached, a suspect dressed as a police officer opened fire. Officers retaliated, and the suspect retreated into the Hortman residence. Mark Hortman was found wounded near the entrance of the house, and he was pronounced dead shortly after. A SWAT team was dispatched, and they sent a drone into the house to locate Melissa Hortman. However, the suspect escaped on foot, triggering a widespread search operation.
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Insight: Vance Boelter, a 57-year-old man from Green Isle, Minnesota, was arrested for the shooting of two Democratic legislators in the Twin Cities region, following a two-day manhunt. Boelter had previously worked in various roles, including in funeral service companies and claimed ownership of a security firm. He was living with a friend at the time of the shootings and is the father of five children. He was charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, with a $5 million bond set for his release. His first court appearance was scheduled for June 16, 2025.
Despite being apprehended, Vance Boelter, the suspect in the Twin Cities' political violence, has deep roots in various sectors. His past employment includes funeral service companies and a self-proclaimed security firm. Boelter, a father of five, was residing with a friend before the dramatic events unfolded. In the aftermath, the community, business world, and political arena are grappling with the implications of this incident, as well as the fallout in the general-news and crime-and-justice arenas. The trial of Vance Boelter, scheduled for June 16, 2025, promises to be a pivotal moment for Minnesota and the nation, with Boelter facing charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
