Suspect identified in fatal shooting of Minnesota lawmaker
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Vance Luther Boelter was last seen wearing a cowboy hat. Image: Minnesota Department of Public Safety via X
Law enforcement officials say they are searching for a 57-year-old Minnesota man in connection with Saturday's fatal shooting of a prominent Minnesota state lawmaker.
The latest: Vance Luther Boelter has been identified as a suspect in the early morning attack that killed House Democratic Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their suburban Twin Cities home, and the FBI said it is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
- Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, who were shot at their nearby residence shortly before the attack on the Hortmans, remained hospitalized earlier in the day.
- Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension superintendent Drew Evans did not provide an update on their condition during a 3pm briefing identifying the suspect.
What they're saying: "At this time, we would ask the public if you do locate him or see him, call 911," Evans said. "Do not approach him. You should consider him armed and dangerous."
- Anyone with information about Boelter or his whereabouts can contact investigators at 877-996-6222 or [email protected].
Details: Boelter, who is 6'2" and roughly 220 lbs, was spotted in Minneapolis this morning wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, a dark-colored long-sleeved collared shirt and light pants, Evans said.
- Authorities, who have already obtained video of Boelter at multiple Twin Cities locations, believe he is "working to flee the area," Evans said.
- He said they do not know if additional people were involved in the attack.
Catch up fast: Officials say the suspected shooter posed as law enforcement to target both lawmakers in their suburban Twin Cities homes.
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said earlier in the day that the attack appeared to be a "politically motivated assassination."
Zoom in: A LinkedIn page and online bio that appeared to be associated with Boelter said he has worked in private security, including in overseas engagements, per multiple reports.
- He described himself as married with five children and claimed to work in the funeral home and food supply industries, according to a video post cited by the Star Tribune.
- Boelter was appointed by both Walz and former Gov. Mark Dayton to a state Workforce Development Board that has several dozen members, according to multiple reports. Hoffman served on that board during an overlapping period, though Evans said it was unclear if the two knew one another.
Public records show he had a residence in Green Isle, about 50 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Friends and roommates told the Star Tribune and other outlets that he spent one to two nights a week at a rented room in Minneapolis to be closer to work.
- One of those roommates, David Carlson, told the New York Times that Boelter, whom he described as a lifetime friend, had experienced mental health and financial challenges.
- Carlson told multiple news outlets that he received a text from Boelter Saturday morning that said, "I'm going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly."
Zoom out: Investigators discovered what they've called a "manifesto" that also listed other Democratic lawmakers in an SUV that the shooter abandoned at Hortman's home after exchanging fire with law enforcement who arrived at the scene.
- An official who saw the list told Axios it included prominent individuals who support abortion rights in Minnesota.
- Evans said it's "premature" to say what the shooter's motivations were based on the writings.
Go deeper: Minnesota shootings set off five-alarm fire in Congress
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.