A manhunt is under way in Minnesota following what authorities have described as a politically-motivated double shooting that left House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband dead, and another state legislator critically injured.
The attack, which Governor Tim Walz denounced as “targeted political violence,” began early Saturday morning when police were alerted to a shooting at the home of State Senator John Hoffman, 60, and his wife. Both were shot multiple times but survived. Hoffman underwent surgery and is now in a stable condition.
Roughly 90 minutes later, police responded to a second emergency call at the Brooklyn Park residence of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, 55. She and her husband Mark were found dead. Officers exchanged fire with the suspect at the scene, but he fled and remains at large.
Authorities have named the suspect as Vance Luther Boelter, 57, a former member of the state’s workforce development board who once served alongside Senator Hoffman. It is unclear whether Boelter knew either of the victims personally.
Police say Boelter posed as a law enforcement officer, wearing a uniform, displaying a false badge, and driving a car outfitted with emergency lights to gain access to both homes. His vehicle has since been recovered, and officials believe he is now travelling on foot. A \$50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his capture.
Minnesota officials are urging residents not to open their doors to any individual posing as a lone police officer, warning that real officers will be travelling in pairs. Hundreds of officers, alongside the FBI and SWAT teams, are combing the area as the manhunt intensifies.
The violence forced the cancellation of the “No Kings” protests planned nationwide against President Donald Trump after authorities discovered protest flyers in Boelter’s vehicle. Governor Walz has activated the State Emergency Operations Centre in response.
In a statement, Walz mourned the loss of a “great leader and dear friend,” calling Hortman “a formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota.” He said her death marked a “dark day” for the state but vowed not to let fear define its future.
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. Former Vice-President Al Gore, who worked with Hortman during his time in the US Senate, said she had a “lasting impact.” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose husband was himself a victim of political violence in 2024, called the killings “heartbreaking” and urged an end to politically-motivated attacks.
Melissa Hortman, an attorney and trailblazing Democrat, served in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2004, becoming House Speaker in 2019. She was a staunch advocate for women’s rights, environmental reform, and free school meals for children. In 2020, she played a key role in pushing through policing reforms in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
She is survived by her two children. Her husband, Mark, also lost his life in the attack.
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