MN lawmaker shootings: Rep. Hortman, her husband killed; manhunt for Vance Boelter

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (FOX 9) - A Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband are dead after what officials are calling a "targeted" shooting of political violence early Saturday morning. A manhunt is underway for the suspect, Vance Boelter.

Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were fatally shot in their Brooklyn Park home. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot in their Champlin home. Officials say they are out of surgery and are recovering. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said they're cautiously optimistic they'll survive.

Vance Boelter named as suspect in lawmaker shootings

DPS names Vance Boelter suspect in lawmaker shootings [RAW]

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says it's looking for 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter in connection with Saturday morning shootings in Brooklyn Park and Champlin that killed Melissa Hortman and her husband, and left John Hoffman and his wife injured.

What we know:

Authorities are looking for 57-year-old Vance Boelter in connection with the shootings, police said. He was said to be impersonating police and wearing a rubber mask at the time of the shootings, but now he could be wearing a cowboy hat and a dark-colored shirt.

Officials said they still don't know if additional people are involved, but Boelter is who they're looking at as a person of interest as of Saturday afternoon. They did say there may be other people with him.

Police are asking for the public's help in locating Boelter, noting he should be considered "armed and dangerous." They also want to speak with anyone who may have had contact with him.

The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Boelter. Boelter is described as being 6-foot-1, 220 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes.

There are hundreds of law enforcement officials involved in the manhunt for him.

Authorities called this an "active and fluid" investigation, noting the exact motive for the shootings is unclear.

Vance Luther Boelter is sought in connection to the shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses.

Timeline of what happened

MN lawmaker shooting: The latest timeline of what happened

Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in Brooklyn Park. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot in what police are calling a targeted attack.

Timeline:

Here's a look at the timeline of what we know so far:

About 2 a.m. on June 14: A 911 call in Champlin was made at about 2 a.m. Saturday. Police then found that Minnesota Sen. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, had been shot. Both Hoffman and his wife are recovering from gunshot wounds after undergoing surgery at the hospital. Yvette Hoffman dove in front of her child to protect her from the gunman.
3:35 am.: Brooklyn Park police officers then "proactively" went to the home of Rep. Hortman, authorities say. It was there that they encountered the suspect, who was dressed up as an officer with a fake police vehicle. The suspect opened fire on officers, but the suspect fled. In the suspect's vehicle, authorities found a manifesto with lawmakers' names on it and papers with "No Kings" written on them.
5:30 a.m.: The shelter-in-place alert was sent at 5:30 a.m. by BPPD for the 3-mile radius around the Edinburgh Golf Course.
Around 6 a.m.: Vance Boelter briefly returned to a home near 49th and Fremont in Minneapolis, where he rented a room part-time. He texted two of the roommates that he had made some bad choices, he doesn't want to implicate them, and he may be dead soon. He did have vehicles at the home and broke out one of the windows, but it's unclear if he took one of those vehicles before he fled. The image of Boelter in the cowboy hat is from the surveillance cameras at this home. The renters have been allowed back inside the home.
Around 9:45 a.m.: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced at a press conference that Hortman and her husband had died after being shot. Walz said they're "cautiously optimistic" about Hoffman and his wife's recovery.
Around 11 a.m.: Authorities and Gov. Walz urged people to not attend any political rallies until the suspect is apprehended.
Around 11:30 a.m.: Champlin authorities say there is no current threat to public safety in the city.
Before 1 p.m.: The Associated Press identified Vance Luther Boelter, 57, as the suspect. He was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2016 and then by Gov. Walz in 2019 to the bipartisan workforce development board. His term expired in 2023.
About 1:30 p.m.: Police clear the scene at Hoffman's house in Champlin.
Around 1:45 p.m.: Police served a search warrant at a home near 49th and Fremont in Minneapolis in connection with the investigation. Authorities used battering rams to get inside. Those who are renting the home told FOX 9 Boelter was a part-time renter of a room in the home.
Around 2 p.m.: Law enforcement in Green Isle sent tactical units to a home about 5 miles southeast of town as part of the manhunt to find Boelter. Boelter has a home in Green Isle.
3 p.m.: Authorities named Vance Boelter as a "person of interest" and suspect in the case, and asked for the public's help in locating him.
3:20 p.m.: Brooklyn Park authorities have cleared the shelter-in-place order. But an alert sent to people living in the area asks people to call 911 if you see something suspicious. Police will still be in the area collecting evidence. Meanwhile, Mercy Hospital remains on lockdown.
3:50 p.m.: The Hennepin County Medical Examiner released the initial reports for the Hortmans, saying Melissa Hortman, 55, and Mark Hortman, 58, both died of multiple gunshot wounds. A time of death was not listed, but the report says Mark Hortman died at North Memorial Hospital, while Melissa Hortman died at her home.
4 p.m.: The FBI is offering a $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Vance Boelter.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office said an investigation is underway and Brooklyn Park is the lead agency. The FBI is assisting in the investigation. Gov. Walz said he has activated the State Emergency Operations Center.

Several people have reportedly been detained and questioned, but no arrests have been made.

Gov. Tim Walz has spoken to Vice President JD Vance. The governor expressed appreciation for the ongoing coordination between federal law enforcement and Minnesota.

Dig deeper:

Read more of FOX 9's coverage on the shootings:

Shelter-in-place lifted for Brooklyn Park, Champlin

Local perspective:

A shelter-in-place alert was sent out at 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning by the Brooklyn Park Police Department after multiple shootings but was lifted around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The order for Champlin has also been lifted.

On Saturday morning, police said a suspect in the shooting may be impersonating law enforcement and should not be approached, authorities said.

Authorities told people in the area not to answer their door for a police officer unless it's two officers together, or call 911 to confirm the identity of the officer at your door.

The suspect was wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and blue pants, with police noting he had been impersonating law enforcement.

Manifesto found in suspect's fake police vehicle

No Kings protests: MN authorities ask public not to attend rallies

Minnesota authorities are asking the public not to attend the No Kings protests planned for Saturday after Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot and Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot. Authorities are still looking for the suspect, but note they found "no kings" papers in the suspect's vehicle.

Other lawmakers targeted:

A manifesto identifying other lawmakers was found in the vehicle, along with papers that said "No Kings" on them, police say.

A law enforcement official who saw the suspect's hit list told FOX 9 the suspect’s list targets prominent pro-choice individuals in Minnesota, including many Democratic lawmakers who have been outspoken about pro-choice policy positions.

The motive for the shooting has not officially been shared by authorities.

The Source: This story uses multiple sources from law enforcement and past FOX 9 reporting.

News Crime and Public Safety