More than 24 hours after a deadly political shooting spree shook Minnesota, authorities are still searching for 57-year-old Vance Boelter, the man accused of killing a state lawmaker and her husband and wounding another legislator and his wife.
The attacks began around 2 a.m. Saturday, when Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot multiple times at their home in Champlin. Shortly after, State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot at their residence in Brooklyn Park.
Police responding to the first attack went to check on Hortman and arrived at her home around 3:35 a.m. There, they encountered the suspect exiting the residence. A brief exchange of gunfire followed, but Boelter managed to flee the scene on foot, officials said.
The FBI has joined the manhunt, deploying significant resources to locate the suspect. “We are using every available resource to locate Vance Boelter,” said Alvin M. Winston Sr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. A $50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest.
Boelter is believed to have posed as a police officer to gain access to the victims’ homes. Law enforcement sources say he was wearing a highly realistic latex mask during the shootings.
According to online biographies and company records, Boelter is a husband and father with extensive military and security experience. He previously helped lead Praetorian Guard Security Services, a private firm based in the Twin Cities.
The search continues across Minnesota and neighboring states, with authorities urging the public to remain alert and report any potential sightings.