A manhunt is under way in Minnesota after two state lawmakers were targeted and one of them killed on Saturday morning in what Governor Tim Walz called an “act of targeted political violence”.
Melissa Hortman, 55, a Democrat, and her husband were killed in Brooklyn Park, a city near Minneapolis.
John Hoffman, 60, also a Democrat, and his wife were shot several times at their home about 15km (nine miles) away in a related attack. He is out of surgery and stable.
A search is on for the suspect who police say was impersonating an officer. He has been named as Vance Luther Boelter, 57 and there is a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
He served on the state’s workforce development board with Hoffman, a state senator, but officials are still investigating whether he knew either politician.
Police said he tricked his way into the victims’ homes using a false badge and uniform and was even driving a car that looks like a police vehicle equipped with emergency lights.
The first emergency call was made at 02:00 local time regarding the incident involving state senator Hoffman and his wife.
Then another call was placed to police at 03:35, which led officers to check on House Speaker Hortman.
The police exchanged gunfire with the suspect at Hortman’s home, but he managed to escape.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said police are engaged in an “extensive manhunt” alongside the FBI, SWAT and hundreds of police officers. He said police took the suspect’s car and believe he is travelling on foot.
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Hortman, an attorney, was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2004, and served as House Speaker from 2019 to 2025.
USA: Manhunt after two Minnesota state politicians targeted, one of them, a lawyer, killed
