Vance Boelter wanted in deadly attack on Democratic lawmakers in Minneapolis suburbs

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A nationwide manhunt is underway for 57-year-old Vance Boelter, identified as the primary suspect in the killing of Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.

Authorities located Mr. Boelter’s vehicle approximately 60 miles from the shooting scene in the Minneapolis suburbs and have warned residents to shelter in place, describing him as “armed and dangerous.”

Mr. Boelter is also suspected in the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, both of whom survived and are recovering. Mr. Hoffman remains in stable condition but may require additional surgeries, while his wife has already undergone surgery. Both targeted lawmakers are Democrats.

The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Mr. Boelter’s arrest. Gov. Tim Walz and other Democrats believe the attacks were politically motivated, citing a “manifesto” found with the shooter that contained names of elected officials, including pro-choice leaders and Democratic lawmakers. However, inferring a possible motive is complicated by Mr. Boelter’s own Democratic connections — he had been appointed to state boards by Democratic governors, and showed evidence of Democratic leanings.

According to law enforcement, Mr. Boelter posed as a police officer, wearing a ballistic vest and mask when he killed the Hortmans at their home. He exchanged gunfire with police before escaping on foot. The attack occurred hours after the Hortmans attended the state Democratic party’s annual Humphrey-Mondale dinner.

Mr. Boelter’s longtime friend and roommate, David Carlson, described him as struggling mentally and financially after leaving his job to pursue business ventures in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr. Carlson received a text from Mr. Boelter on Saturday morning saying he would be dead shortly. Despite this warning, Mr. Carlson found it unbelievable that Mr. Boelter could commit such acts.

The suspect’s motivations remain unclear, creating confusion about his political leanings. While Mr. Carlson stated that Mr. Boelter opposed abortion and supported President Trump, police found “No Kings” flyers in his fake police car — references to anti-Trump protests. Videos have surfaced showing Mr. Boelter delivering sermons in Congo, railing against transgender people and gay people getting married.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who has received additional security, called for toned-down political rhetoric and new rules to combat online activity that incites political violence. She noted that threats against elected officials have increased dramatically, from 1,700 in 2016 to 9,000 last year. The incident has sparked discussions about whether members of Congress need security details, with Senator Tina Smith calling the situation a “tipping point.”

Read more: Massive manhunt underway for suspect accused of killing Minnesota lawmaker, her husband