Gunman Posing as Officer Kills Hortman, Injures Senator \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A man impersonating law enforcement fatally shot Democratic leader Melissa Hortman and wounded Sen. John Hoffman. The suspect, Vance Boelter, remains at large amid a massive police manhunt across Minneapolis suburbs. Authorities believe the act was politically motivated, and the state has suspended “No Kings” protests as a precaution.
Quick Looks
- Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in their home; Sen. John Hoffman and wife Yvette were wounded in a second attack.
- Suspect Vance Boelter, 57, is believed to have posed as a police officer during the shootings and remains on the run.
- Boelter had ties to a state workforce board and possibly targeted lawmakers over political views, including abortion rights.
- Flyers related to the anti-government “No Kings” movement were found in his vehicle.
- Authorities recovered AK-style firearms; Boelter is believed to still be armed with a pistol.
- Hundreds of officers are conducting a region-wide search with roadblocks and public shelter-in-place alerts.
- Hortman was a longtime Democratic leader known for her progressive advocacy, including abortion rights.
- The shootings prompted calls for increased security for lawmakers nationwide amid a growing trend of political violence.
Deep Look
Minnesota is reeling from a shocking act of political violence after a gunman posing as a police officer fatally shot Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and wounded Sen. John Hoffman in what authorities are calling a “politically motivated assassination.” The attack, which unfolded in the early hours of Saturday in Minneapolis suburbs, has sparked a statewide manhunt and intensified national concern over escalating threats against elected officials.
Melissa Hortman, 55, a powerful Democratic leader who served as House Speaker until recently, was killed alongside her husband, Mark, in their Brooklyn Park home. Approximately 15 kilometers away, Sen. John Hoffman, 60, chair of the state Senate Human Services Committee, and his wife, Yvette, were shot in their Champlin residence. Both were hospitalized with serious injuries.
Authorities identified the suspect as 57-year-old Vance Boelter, a former state appointee with ties to the same workforce board as Hoffman. Officials displayed surveillance images of Boelter wearing a tan cowboy hat and urged the public to report sightings. He is believed to be armed and dangerous.
Investigators discovered “No Kings” flyers and anti-government writings in Boelter’s vehicle, alongside references to several lawmakers, including vocal advocates for abortion rights. The “No Kings” movement, known for opposing authoritarianism and federal authority, has recently grown more radical. A Minnesota official confirmed that Boelter’s writings included targeted remarks about lawmakers who had championed reproductive rights.
The shootings sent shockwaves through Minnesota, a state traditionally viewed as politically stable despite recent polarization. Governor Tim Walz called the killings “a politically motivated assassination” and urged Minnesotans to stand united against extremism.
“Those responsible for this will be held accountable,” Walz said at a press conference. “We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence.”
Law enforcement recovered multiple AK-style rifles from Boelter’s vehicle and confirmed he may still possess a handgun. Hundreds of officers from regional agencies launched a manhunt, prompting emergency alerts and roadblocks. Although the shelter-in-place order was lifted later in the day, authorities warned the suspect could be attempting to flee the state.
Details from the scene further emphasized the brutality of the attacks. In Champlin, officers arrived around 2 a.m. to find the Hoffmans seriously wounded. Recognizing the potential connection to Hortman, police quickly dispatched units to her residence. There, they encountered a man dressed as law enforcement leaving the house. He immediately opened fire on the officers and fled back inside before escaping.
Boelter’s background raises further alarms. He was appointed to the state’s workforce board by former Gov. Mark Dayton and reappointed under Gov. Walz, with his term ending in 2023. Records show his wife registered a security firm, Praetorian Guard Security Services LLC, which advertised armed patrols and vehicles resembling police cruisers. Boelter, listed as director of security patrols, also claimed to have worked in high-risk zones abroad.
The attacks have paralyzed the state politically and prompted the cancellation of all planned “No Kings” protests, initially organized in opposition to President Donald Trump. While officials did not confirm direct targeting of protest events, authorities acted out of caution given the content found in the suspect’s vehicle.
The shootings have been compared to a troubling string of violent incidents targeting public figures in recent years, from the attempted kidnapping of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband. Just last year, Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a campaign stop.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer responded by urging Capitol Police to increase protection for Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and calling for a Senate-wide security briefing. “Condemning violence is important but it is not enough,” Schumer said. “We must confront the toxic forces radicalizing individuals and protect one another.”
Melissa Hortman’s legacy looms large in Minnesota politics. A lawyer by training, she served in the House since 2004 and led Democrats through some of the most consequential legislative sessions in recent history. She championed abortion rights, climate reform, free school lunches, and paid family leave. Even after Democrats lost their House majority, she played a pivotal role in brokering bipartisan deals to keep the government running—sometimes casting the lone Democratic vote to ensure compromise.
“She was irreplaceable,” said Walz. “A giant in our legislature and a force for good.”
Sen. Hoffman, a former nonprofit director and juvenile justice administrator, has served since 2012 and is widely respected for his work in human services and healthcare reform.
As Minnesota mourns, the national spotlight once again falls on the threats facing public servants—and the urgent need to address the volatile mix of political extremism, access to weapons, and social polarization.
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