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What we know about the attack on two Minnesota lawmakers What we know about the attack on two Minnesota lawmakers
(about 4 hours later)
On Saturday, two state lawmakers from Minnesota were attacked in their homes in what Governor Tim Walz called a "politically motivated assassination" attempt. The attacks left one politician dead and another seriously injured. On Saturday, two state lawmakers from Minnesota were gunned down in their homes in what Governor Tim Walz called a "politically motivated assassination" attempt. The attacks left one politician dead and the other seriously injured.
Police are hunting for a suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, who remains at large on Sunday morning. Police are hunting for a suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, who remained at large on Sunday evening.
The attacks drew condemnation from across the political spectrum. President Donald Trump said in a statement that "such horrific violence will not be tolerated".The attacks drew condemnation from across the political spectrum. President Donald Trump said in a statement that "such horrific violence will not be tolerated".
US Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, called it "an attack on everything we stand for as a democracy".US Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, called it "an attack on everything we stand for as a democracy".
Who were the victims?Who were the victims?
State representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their home, the governor said.State representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their home, the governor said.
She had served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 20 years, and was speaker of the chamber from 2019-25.She had served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 20 years, and was speaker of the chamber from 2019-25.
State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot multiple times and injured, but survived. They had surgery. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot multiple times and injured, but survived. They had surgery.
Both lawmakers are Democrats.Both lawmakers are Democrats.
What happened?What happened?
So far, local law enforcement has confirmed that the attacks occurred in the early hours of Saturday in the cities of Brooklyn Park and Champlin, Minnesota.So far, local law enforcement has confirmed that the attacks occurred in the early hours of Saturday in the cities of Brooklyn Park and Champlin, Minnesota.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said police received a call at 02:00 local time about an incident at Hoffman's house. Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said police received a call at 02:00 local time about an incident at Hoffman's house in Champlin.
Another call to police came in at 03:35, when officers were checking on Hortman's home, nearby. Another call to police came in at 03:35, when officers were checking on Hortman's home, nearby in Brooklyn Park.
Police exchanged gunfire with the suspect at Hortman's house, but he escaped. A manhunt is underway. Police discovered what looked like an emergency vehicle parked at the home with emergency lights flashing.
Officials said the attacker was impersonating a police officer, driving a vehicle that resembled a police car and using a badge and uniform. Coming out of the home was someone resembling a police officer, who immediately opened fire on officers, darted back into the house, then escaped on foot.
Who is the suspect? Mark Bruley, chief of Brooklyn Park police, said the suspect was "wearing a vest with a Taser, other equipment, a badge" posing as law enforcement in order "to manipulate their way into the home".
Who is Vance Luther Boelter?
Police said they are looking for a single suspect, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter. They did not give details on a possible motive.Police said they are looking for a single suspect, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter. They did not give details on a possible motive.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has added Boelter to their most wanted list, and offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
A former political appointee, Boelter was once a member of the same state workforce development board as Hoffman.A former political appointee, Boelter was once a member of the same state workforce development board as Hoffman.
"We don't know the nature of the relationship or if they actually knew each other," said Mr Evans."We don't know the nature of the relationship or if they actually knew each other," said Mr Evans.
Chief Mark Bruley of the Brooklyn Park Police said authorities found a manifesto and a target list of individuals in the suspect's vehicle. Investigators said officers found a "manifesto" and a list of 70 "targets", including the names of state Democratic politicians, in a vehicle the suspect drove for the assassination.
The list included the names of several politicians as well as abortion providers and pro-abortion politicians, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Another Minnesota lawmaker, Democratic US Representative Kelly Morrison, told the Star Tribune that she was on the list. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Minnesota's two US senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, and state Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison were reportedly on the hit list.
US Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota, a Democrat, was named on the target list, a spokesman for her office confirmed to the BBC. Locations for Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions and contraception, were also on the list, a person familiar with the investigation told the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Boelter is a security contractor who has worked in Africa and the Middle East, according to an online CV. He has also had managerial roles at firms in Minnesota. Boelter is a security contractor who has worked in Africa and the Middle East, according to an online CV. He had also apparently had managerial roles at firms in Minnesota.
Boelter once preached as a pastor at a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Facebook photos. He had travelled often to the nation, indicate posts from his LinkedIn account.
According to local TV affiliate KTTC, Boelter's only criminal history in Minnesota was for traffic tickets, including speeding and parking violations.
He texted a troubling message to friends at a Minneapolis residence, where he had rented a room and would stay one or two nights a week, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.He texted a troubling message to friends at a Minneapolis residence, where he had rented a room and would stay one or two nights a week, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Boelter said: "I'm going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn't gone this way."Boelter said: "I'm going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn't gone this way."
What is the fallout? What's the latest in the manhunt?
A massive manhunt for the suspect began Saturday and continued overnight into Sunday, as some areas in suburban Minneapolis were put under shelter-in-place-orders for part of the weekend. The FBI has added Boelter to its most wanted list, and offered a $50,000 reward.
Law enforcement in the neighbouring state of South Dakota warned residents on Saturday afternoon to watch out for a maroon Buick, the Star Tribune reported, saying it was potentially being driven by "person of interest in the events that have happened in Minnesota" and could be linked to someone "armed and dangerous". The manhunt - which has widened over state lines into South Dakota and involves hundreds of law-enforcement personnel - is now in its second day.
Out of an abundance of caution, the governor discouraged Minnesotans from attending protests against the Trump administration's policies that were held around the US on Saturday, though thousands still showed up at rallies across the state. On Sunday, officers said they had found an unoccupied car linked to the suspect in Sibley County, about 50 miles (80km) from the murder scene.
The attacks have put a renewed spotlight on the issue of political violence in the US. A cowboy hat, similar to what Boelter was believed to have been wearing, was found lying on a road nearby.
President Trump survived two assassination attempts in 2024. His wife was detained in a traffic stop along with three relatives in a car in the city of Onamia, more than 100 miles from the family home, on Saturday morning, but released after questioning.
In April this year, the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, was the target of an arson attack.