Manhunt For Minnesota Killer Sparks Statewide Panic

Key Point Summary โ€“ Manhunt for Minnesota killer

  • Vance Boelter is accused of killing Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband
  • He also shot Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who both survived
  • Posed as a cop and escaped in a fake police SUV
  • Still at large as of Sunday night; FBI added him to Most Wanted list
  • Authorities believe he may target more lawmakers
  • Boelter left behind a manifesto and hit list
  • FBI is offering $50,000 reward for information

Dressed as a Cop, He Brought Death

Vance Luther Boelter didnโ€™t knock as a neighbor. He came as a predator.

In the dead of night, dressed in full police gear and driving a vehicle rigged to look like a squad car, Boelter allegedly murdered a beloved Minnesota lawmaker and her husband. Then, without pause, he moved to his next targets.

Now, the manhunt for Minnesota killer Boelter is the top priority for state and federal law enforcement.

As fear spreads across the Midwest, families of public officials are sleeping with lights onโ€”and doors barricaded.

Targeted for Their Politics

It all began around 3:30 a.m. Saturday when police were called to Rep. Melissa Hortmanโ€™s home in Brooklyn Park. Inside, they found her dead. Her husband, Mark, was rushed to a hospitalโ€”but he didnโ€™t make it.

Outside the house, officers say they exchanged fire with a man dressed as one of their own. But he slipped away into the dark, vanishing like smoke.

Less than an hour earlier, Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette had already been shot in Champlin. They survivedโ€”barely.

The gunman had struck two homes in one night, leaving bodies, bullet holes, and fear in his wake.

A Fake Cop With Real Intent

Authorities say Boelter, 57, wore a police vest, badge, and carried a Taser. His SUV even had emergency lights. It fooled the victimsโ€”and might have fooled neighbors, too.

โ€œHe was wearing equipment so authentic that if he stood in a police briefing room, you wouldnโ€™t question it,โ€ said Champlin Police Chief Mark Bruley.

Thatโ€™s what made him deadly. He didnโ€™t just play the partโ€”he rehearsed it.

Boelter Is Now FBIโ€™s Most Wanted

Within 24 hours, the FBI placed Boelter on its Most Wanted list. The reward? A hefty $50,000 for information that leads to his arrest and conviction.

Photos of Boelter have been blasted across news networks, rest stops, and border patrol stations. Authorities fear he may try to escape to Canada.

But others, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, believe heโ€™s still nearby.

โ€œHe may be in Minnesota. Weโ€™ve issued alerts across state lines, including South Dakota,โ€ Klobuchar told NBCโ€™s Meet The Press on Sunday. โ€œBut make no mistakeโ€”he will kill again.โ€

The Killerโ€™s Texts: A Cryptic Goodbye

Before vanishing, Boelter sent haunting messages to two longtime friends.

โ€œI made some choices, and you guys donโ€™t know anything about this,โ€ one message read. โ€œMay be dead shortly. I love you both.โ€

He didnโ€™t offer a full confession. But his tone was fatal. Final. And terrifying.

โ€œI wish it hadnโ€™t gone this way,โ€ he added.

Though vague, authorities now believe these texts were his prelude to violence.

Inside the Manifesto: A Hit List of Hate

When police searched the scene, they made a disturbing discoveryโ€”a manifesto.

Scrawled pages listed dozens of names. Most were elected officials. Many had supported abortion rights. Clinics and health workers were named, too.

โ€œThere clearly was some through line with abortion,โ€ Klobuchar confirmed. โ€œAnd that raises even more concerns.โ€

Boelterโ€™s hit list included pro-choice Democrats, reproductive health advocates, and legislative staffers.

In other words, this wasnโ€™t random. It was political.

Governor Walz Calls It What It Is

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz didnโ€™t mince words. He labeled the shootings โ€œa politically motivated assassination.โ€

That statement lit up cable news and social media. Within hours, national attention descended on the Midwest.

Was this the start of a wave of targeted killings? Could more public officials be in danger?

The answers remain unclear. But the mood is one of dread.

Fear Rips Through the Capitol

Lawmakers returned to the Minnesota Capitol under tight security. Armed guards flanked entrances. Badges were rechecked. Panic whispered through every hallway.

Many wondered if they were next.

โ€œI wonโ€™t let fear silence me,โ€ said one representative. โ€œBut Iโ€™m not naรฏve. We are targets.โ€

Others chose to stay home. The Capitol, once a place of policy, now feels like a fortress.

A Killer With Government Ties

Boelter wasnโ€™t an outsider. He served on the stateโ€™s Workforce Development Council, first appointed by Governor Mark Dayton in 2016 and again by Governor Walz in 2019.

That connection has only deepened the horror.

How did a former government appointee become a political assassin?

Investigators are digging into his past, reviewing emails, finances, and public statements. But so far, the motive appears rooted in extremist ideologyโ€”primarily anti-abortion rage and political vengeance.

The Public Reactsโ€”With Anger and Fear

Across Minnesota, citizens are reeling.

Vigils have been held for Rep. Hortman and her husband. Candles line sidewalks. Children place handwritten notes at the foot of her office.

On social media, tributes pour in. But so do threats. Law enforcement says copycat threats are already being reported in neighboring states.

โ€œThis isnโ€™t just about one man,โ€ said a resident in Brooklyn Park. โ€œThis is about the hate he represents.โ€

Where Is He Now?

Boelter remains at large. The FBI has mobilized air patrols, drones, and tactical teams. Theyโ€™ve issued warnings to rural homeowners, truckers, and border agents.

Despite the massive dragnet, no sightings have been confirmed since early Saturday.

Authorities say he could be hiding in plain sightโ€”or planning another strike.

Either way, time is running out.

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