Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman killed in ‘politically motivated assassination,’ senator shot

Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were each shot multiple times and are currently alive.

By
Hank Long and Anthony Gockowski
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Hortman
Sen. John Hoffman and Rep. Melissa Hortman/Minnesota Senate and House

UPDATE — Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Superintendent Drew Evans confirmed during a press conference that 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter is a “person of interest” in the assassination of House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband.

Boelter is also a suspect in the shooting of Sen. John Hofmann and his wife Yvette.

Evans described Boelter as a 6-foot-1, 220-pound white male who should be considered “armed and dangerous.”

Boelter was last seen this morning wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, shown in pictures released by the FBI and BCA, which also included a photo of Boelter wearing a rubber mask. Evans said authorities “still don’t know if additional people are involved.”

Boelter was appointed to the “Governor’s Workforce Development Council” as a “private sector representative” in 2016 and 2019.

He has also been identified as the “Director of Security Patrols” for a security company named Praetorian Guard Security Services and describes himself as the CEO of “Red Lion Group” on LinkedIn.

He reportedly has a residence near Green Isle, where a large police presence was observed Saturday afternoon.

The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest and conviction.

Fellow elected officials from across the state and nation issued statements honoring Hortman Saturday and condemning the act of violence.

FBI agents huddle for a break near the scene of the shooting at Hortman’s home. (Alpha News)

“Today we speak with one voice to express our outrage, grief, and condemnation of this horrible attack on public servants. There is no place in our democracy for politically-motivated violence,” the entire Minnesota congressional delegation said in a joint statement.

“We are praying for John and Yvette’s recovery and we grieve the loss of Melissa and Mark with their family, colleagues, and Minnesotans across the state. We are grateful for law enforcement’s swift response to the situation and continued efforts.”

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UPDATE — Gov. Tim Walz confirmed during a press conference Saturday morning that DFL Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed in “what appears to be a politically motivated assassination.”

“Our state lost a great leader and I lost the dearest of friends,” he said. “She was a formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota. She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place.”

Walz said Democratic Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were each shot multiple times. They both underwent surgery and authorities are “cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt.”

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said police received a call around 2 a.m. that an individual had shot Sen. Hoffman and his wife in Champlin.

At approximately 3:35 a.m., another call came in after officers proactively checked on Hortman’s home in Brooklyn Park—which is near Hoffman’s home, police said.

When they arrived at Hortman’s home, Brooklyn Park police encountered an individual who immediately fired at police.

At the time of the press conference, a manhunt was underway for the suspect, who was posing as a law enforcement officer.

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said there is increased security in place for elected officials.

Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said a “very intuitive sergeant” thought to proactively check on Hortman’s home upon learning of the Hoffman shooting. Police noticed a “police vehicle in the driveway with the emergency lights on and what appeared to be a police officer.”

Police confronted him, there was an exchange of gunfire and the suspect retreated back into the home, according to Bruley.

“It was not a real police officer. This is somebody that clearly had been impersonating a police officer,” he said.

The suspect drove a vehicle that looked exactly like an SUV squad car that was equipped with emergency lights.

“No question if they were in this room you would assume that they are a police officer,” he said.

Police believe the suspect fled out the back of Hortman’s house after being confronted by police.

Nobody was in custody at the time of the press conference. Bruley said police found a “manifesto” in the suspect vehicle that identified many lawmakers and other officials.

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9:30 a.m. — Two state lawmakers were shot along with one of the spouses of the lawmakers in “targeted” attacks early Saturday morning, sources tell Alpha News.

Two of those shot are Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, and Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park. Both were shot at their homes and police responding to the incidents believe the shooter was posing as a law enforcement officer, according to sources.

Police placed a shelter-in-place alert to areas near the reported shootings, indicating the alert is for a 3-mile radius surrounding the Edinburgh Golf Course in Brooklyn Park.

A number of elected officials have released statements following the reports.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is planning to hold a 9:30 a.m. press conference to provide the public with details as they emerge.

Gov. Tim Walz said in a statement that he has been briefed “on an ongoing situation involving targeted shootings in Champlin and Brooklyn Park.”

“The Minnesota Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement are on the scene. We will share more information soon,” Walz added.

House Speaker Lisa Demuth issued a statement on Saturday morning on the shooting.

“I am shocked and horrified by the evil attack that took place overnight,” Demuth said. “Please lift up in prayer the victims, as well as the law enforcement personnel working to apprehend the perpetrator.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

 

Hank Long
Hank Long

Hank Long is a journalism and communications professional whose writing career includes coverage of the Minnesota legislature, city and county governments and the commercial real estate industry. Hank received his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, where he studied journalism, and his law degree at the University of St. Thomas. The Minnesota native lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children. His dream is to be around when the Vikings win the Super Bowl.

Anthony Gockowski
Website

Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.

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