(Brooklyn Park, MN) -- The suspect in the shooting of two Minnesota state lawmakers has been identified as Vance Luther Boelter, a former appointee of Governors Tim Walz and Mark Dayton. Boelter, 57, was appointed to the Governor's Workforce Development Board in 2019 by Governor Walz and previously was appointed to the Minnesota Workforce Development Council under Governor Dayton in 2016.
On Saturday morning police say Boelter shot and killed State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband at their Brooklyn Park home. He then went to the nearby home of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in Champlin, and shot them multiple times. The Hoffmans survived the attack but have severe injuries. Boelter reportedly was dressed as a police officer when he knocked on their doors.
The Minnesota State Patrol reports finding a manifesto and flyers for the No Kings protest in Boelter's abandoned car. The Department of Public Safety and Governor Tim Walz have warned the public to avoid political rallies in Minneapolis as they continue their search for Boelter. His social media accounts have been removed, and he is listed as the CEO of a security services company in Minnesota. Police have not yet released his photo.
Governor Walz says the motive behind the shootings appears to be political, and a manhunt is underway to apprehend Boelter. Anyone with information is urged to contact local authorities immediately.