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 didnโt 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 onโand doors barricaded.
Targeted for Their Politics
It all began around 3:30 a.m. Saturday when police were called to Rep. Melissa Hortmanโs home in Brooklyn Park. Inside, they found her dead. Her husband, Mark, was rushed to a hospitalโbut he didnโt 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 survivedโbarely.
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 victimsโand might have fooled neighbors, too.
โHe was wearing equipment so authentic that if he stood in a police briefing room, you wouldnโt question it,โ said Champlin Police Chief Mark Bruley.
Thatโs what made him deadly. He didnโt just play the partโhe rehearsed it.
Boelter Is Now FBIโs 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 heโs still nearby.
โHe may be in Minnesota. Weโve issued alerts across state lines, including South Dakota,โ Klobuchar told NBCโs Meet The Press on Sunday. โBut make no mistakeโhe will kill again.โ
The Killerโs Texts: A Cryptic Goodbye
Before vanishing, Boelter sent haunting messages to two longtime friends.
โI made some choices, and you guys donโt know anything about this,โ one message read. โMay be dead shortly. I love you both.โ
He didnโt offer a full confession. But his tone was fatal. Final. And terrifying.
โI wish it hadnโt 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 discoveryโa manifesto.
Scrawled pages listed dozens of names. Most were elected officials. Many had supported abortion rights. Clinics and health workers were named, too.
โThere clearly was some through line with abortion,โ Klobuchar confirmed. โAnd that raises even more concerns.โ
Boelterโs hit list included pro-choice Democrats, reproductive health advocates, and legislative staffers.
In other words, this wasnโt random. It was political.
Governor Walz Calls It What It Is
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz didnโt mince words. He labeled the shootings โa 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.
โI wonโt let fear silence me,โ said one representative. โBut Iโm 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 wasnโt an outsider. He served on the stateโs 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 ideologyโprimarily anti-abortion rage and political vengeance.
The Public ReactsโWith 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.
โThis isnโt just about one man,โ said a resident in Brooklyn Park. โThis 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. Theyโve 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 sightโor planning another strike.
Either way, time is running out.