A chilling wave of violence struck Minnesota over the weekend, leaving one state lawmaker dead and another seriously injured in what Governor Tim Walz has condemned as a “politically motivated assassination” attempt. Authorities are searching for 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, the primary suspect in the twin attacks.
According to officials, the violence unfolded in the early hours of Saturday in two Minneapolis suburbs. At around 2:00 a.m., police responded to reports of gunfire at the Champlin residence of State Senator John Hoffman, a Democrat. Both Hoffman and his wife sustained multiple gunshot wounds and underwent emergency surgery. They are currently in stable condition.
Roughly 90 minutes later, officers were dispatched to Brooklyn Park, where they discovered the bodies of State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. The longtime lawmaker, who had served in the Minnesota House for two decades and was Speaker from 2019 to 2025, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Law enforcement officials said the suspect, Boelter, impersonated a police officer, using a badge, a uniform, and a vehicle resembling a patrol car to carry out the attacks. Police briefly exchanged gunfire with him at Hortman’s home, but he fled and remains at large. The FBI has since placed Boelter on its Most Wanted list and is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
Investigators revealed that a manifesto and a target list were recovered from Boelter’s abandoned vehicle. The list reportedly included Democratic lawmakers, abortion providers, and pro-abortion politicians. Among those named were U.S. Senator Tina Smith and Representative Kelly Morrison of Minnesota, both Democrats.
Boelter, a former security contractor with experience in Africa and the Middle East, once served on the same state workforce board as Senator Hoffman. Authorities have not confirmed whether the suspect had a personal relationship with any of the victims. A message reportedly sent by Boelter to acquaintances hinted at his intentions, saying, “May be dead shortly… I wish it hadn’t gone this way.”
Reactions have poured in from across the political spectrum. President Donald Trump condemned the violence, saying, “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated.” Senator Amy Klobuchar called the incident “an attack on everything we stand for as a democracy.”
The attacks prompted shelter-in-place orders in parts of suburban Minneapolis and heightened security alerts in neighboring states. Authorities in South Dakota warned residents to be on the lookout for a maroon Buick possibly linked to the suspect.
Governor Walz urged Minnesotans to remain vigilant and discouraged participation in previously scheduled protests, citing safety concerns. The events have reignited national debate over political violence in the United States, following similar incidents in recent years.
