A massive manhunt is under way in Minnesota after two Democratic state lawmakers were targeted in separate early morning shootings on Saturday—leaving House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband dead, and State Senator John Hoffman critically injured.
Authorities identified the suspect as Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who is believed to have impersonated a police officer to gain access to both homes. A $50,000 reward has been announced for information leading to his capture.
The first emergency call came around 2:00 AM from Hoffman’s residence, where both the senator and his wife were shot multiple times. He is now out of surgery and in stable condition.
Just over an hour later, officers responded to Hortman’s home in Brooklyn Park, where she and her husband, Mark, were found fatally shot. Police engaged in a brief gunfight with the suspect at the scene, but he managed to flee on foot after abandoning a vehicle outfitted to look like a police cruiser.
Governor Tim Walz condemned the shootings as an “act of targeted political violence” and activated the State Emergency Operations Center, typically reserved for disasters or large-scale emergencies. “We lost a great leader—and I lost one of my dearest friends,” he said of Hortman.
Melissa Hortman, 55, served as Speaker of the Minnesota House from 2019 until earlier this year. Known for her advocacy on clean energy, women’s rights, and police reform, she had also helped lead the post-George Floyd legislative response, including a ban on police chokeholds.
Public officials across the country have reacted with shock and sorrow. Former Vice President Al Gore, who once employed Hortman during his Senate tenure, remembered her as someone with “lasting impact.” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the shootings “heartbreaking” and warned against the rise in politically motivated violence, echoing her own experience after her husband was attacked in 2024.
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and SWAT, are warning the public not to open their doors to anyone claiming to be an officer unless two uniformed officers are present.
“No Kings” protests scheduled across Minnesota were cancelled after protest flyers were found in the suspect’s abandoned car. While authorities continue to investigate Boelter’s motive, they confirmed he once served with Hoffman on a state workforce board.
Bob Jacobson, Minnesota’s public safety commissioner, described Saturday as a “dark day” for the state. “Public servants have been targeted in a violent and cowardly way,” he said. “But we will not be ruled by fear.”
