Hundreds of legal officers spread over the suburbs of Minneapolis on Saturday in the pursuit of a man who, according to the authorities, was a police officer and deadly shot Democratic state legislator In his home, in what Governor Tim Walz called “politically motivated murder.” The authorities reported that the suspect also shot the second legislator and was believed that he was trying to escape from the area.
The democratic former speaker of the house Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed at home in Brooklyn Park. Senator John Hoffman, also Democrat and his wife Yvette, were wounded at Champlin, about 9 miles (about 15 kilometers).
The authorities identified the suspect as a 57-year-old Vance Boelter, and the FBI issued a prize of up to USD 50,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
The authorities showed a photo taken on Saturday Boelter in a brown cowboy hat and asked public opinion to report observations. Drew Evans, curator of Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Lampen, also said that investigators got a video.
He did not provide detailed information about the possible theme.
Boelter is a former political denominator who sat in the same State Council for the Development of Working Force, as Hoffman, show that it was not clear if they know each other well.
Early morning attacks caused warnings for other selected officials in the entire state and cancellation of planned “No Kings” demonstrations against President Donald Trump. The authorities said that the suspect had leaflets in his car “without kings”, mentioning the names of victims, as well as other legislators and officials, although they could not say if he had any other specific goals.
The official from Minnesota told The Associated Press that the suspect also contained information addressed to outstanding legislators who were candid in favor of abortion. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was pending.
The shootings took place at a time when Political leaders throughout the country They were attacked, harassed and intimidated among the deep political divisions.
“We all have, in Minnesota and all over the country, to oppose all forms of political violence,” said Walz, a democrat, at a press conference. “Persons responsible for this will be held responsible.”
Law enforcement agents regained several firearms in the style of the Home Army from the suspect and it was thought that they were still armed with a pistol, said AP. The person could not publicly discuss the details of the investigation and talks about the conditions of anonymity.
Shooting from day to day
The police responded to reports of a shooting at Hoffmans’s house shortly after 2am, said Champlin police and found a couple with many gunshot wounds.
After seeing who the victims are, the police sent officers to check the Hortman’s house pro -actively. There they encountered something that looked like a police vehicle and a man dressed like an officer at the door, leaving the house.
“When the officers confronted with him, the unit immediately fired officers who exchanged fire and the suspect withdrew back home” and escaped on foot, said the head of the police at Brooklyn Park Mark Bruley.
In the door of Hoffman’s house you could see many bullet holes.
According to Walz, John and Yvette Hoffman underwent surgery.
“We are carefully optimistic that they will survive this murder attempt,” said the governor at the morning press conference.
Trump said in a statement that the FBI would join the investigation.
“Our Prosecutor General, Pam Bondi and FBI, are investigating the situation and will prosecute everyone involved in the full scope of law. Such terrifying violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. May God bless the great people of Minnesota, a really great place!”
Two democratic legislators have been targeted
55 -year -old Hortman was the highest democratic leader in the State Chamber since 2017. She led the democrats in Three -week strike At the beginning of this year’s session in the fight for power with the Republicans. According to the contract for sharing power, she handed over the Hammer of the Republican Republican Lisa Demuth and accepted the title Emerita speaker.
Hortman used his position as a speaker in 2023 to assist the master extended protection of abortion rights, including legislation in order to consolidate the status of Minnesota as shelter for patients from restrictive countries who travel to the state to seek abortion – and protect suppliers who serve them.
Walz called her a “powerful public official, meeting and giant in Minnesota.”
“She woke up every day, determined to make this state a better place,” he said. “She is irreplaceable.”
Hortman and her husband had two adult children.
Initial reports from autopsy from the Hennepin Ferrrum Bureau gave the matter of death as “wounds of many shots.”
Reports say that Melissa Hortman died on the spot while her husband was recognized as deceased in the hospital.
The 60 -year -old Hoffman was elected for the first time in 2012 and was the chairman of the Senate Committee for Social Services, who supervises one of the largest parts of the state budget. He and his wife have one daughter.
State Colonel Christina Bogojevic asked people “out of abundance” so that they would not participate “No Kings” protests. Bogojevic said that the authorities did not have any direct evidence that the protests would be attacked, but noticed the “No Kings” leaflets in the car.
The organizers announced that all demonstrations in this state were canceled, but many people still appeared on protests in the capitol and elsewhere in the Twin Cities region.
Suspicious
Boelter was appointed to the employee’s development council in 2016, and then re -appointed in 2019 to a four -year term, which expired in 2023, according to state files.
Corporate documents show that Boelter’s wife submitted a request to create a company called Praetorian Guard Security Services LLC with the same Green Isle email address listed for the couple. On the website for the company, the wife of Boelter is listed as the president and general director, while he is mentioned as a safety patrol director.
The main page claims that it provides armed security of real estate and events and has a photo of a SUV painted two-colored black and silver pattern similar to a police vehicle, with a featherlight roof bar and “praetorian” painted on the door. The next photo shows black tactical equipment with a military helmet and a ballistic vest.
Internet resumption says that Boelter is a security contractor who worked in the Middle East and Africa, in addition to earlier managerial roles in Minnesota companies.
A former neighbor in Inver Grove Heights, where Boelter lived, said that he almost knew him, but he remembers his daughters because they were kayaking and riding on the pond behind the houses.
“It’s really sad for children, very, very nice children,” said Michael Cassidy. He added that the wife of the suspect once approached to pray with his wife and daughter.
Huge search
Hundreds of deputies of the police and sheriffSome in tactical equipment with assault weapons were scattered throughout the city. Some checkpoints have been configured.
Alert sent to cell phones in the morning asked people to shelter when the police were looking for a suspect “armed and dangerous”.
“A white man is suspicious, brown hair, dressed in black armor over a blue shirt and blue pants and can mislead as law enforcement agencies. Do not approach. Call at 911,” said the initial alarm.
In the afternoon the police raised the order of shelter, saying that they had a reason to think that the suspect was no longer in the area.
“It’s crazy, someone following representatives,” said a 62 -year -old resident of Brooklyn Park, Douglas Thompson, “It’s bad. I hope they catch them.”
Lisa Demuth, a republican from a chilly spring, called her “evil” and said that “she broke her for a broken heart” through the murders.
Political violence
The shootings are the latest from a series of attacks on legislators between parties.
In April, the suspect set fire to the House of Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiroforcing him and his family to escape during the Jewish holidays of Passover. The suspect said he was planning to defeat Shapiro with a petite hammer if he found him, according to court documents.
In July 2024, Trump was Eye pasped Through one of the shell hails that killed Trump’s supporter. Two months later a man with a rifle was discovered Near the president’s golf course in Florida and arrested.
Other incidents include a hammer attack on 2022 on the husband of the then speaker Nancy Pelosia In their home in San Francisco and the 2020 plot kidnap the democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer And start the civil war.
Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democratic Senate, said he asked the police Capitol to “immediately increase safety” for Minnesota Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. He also asked the leader of the majority John Thune, a republican, to organize a severance pay for members’ safety.
“Daming violence is important, but it’s not enough,” said Schumer on the Social Platform X. “We also have to face toxic forces radicalizing individuals and we must do more to protect each other, our democracy and values ​​that bind us as Americans.”
