CHAMPLIN, Minn. (FOX 9) – A manhunt is underway for 57-year-old Vance Boelter, identified by officials as the person of interest in the targeted shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers.

Suspected shooter identified as Vance Boelter

The backstory:

Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were fatally shot in their Brooklyn Park home. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot in their Champlin home. Officials say they are out of surgery and are recovering. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said they’re cautiously optimistic they’ll survive. 

READ MORE: Live updates on MN lawmaker shootings: Rep. Hortman and her husband dead, suspect impersonating police

What we know:

Authorities are looking for 57-year-old Vance Boelter in connection with the shootings. Officials named him a person of interest Saturday afternoon.

The suspected shooter was impersonating a police officer at the time of the shooting and had a vehicle with emergency lights and sirens. Inside the vehicle, authorities found a manifesto with lawmakers’ names on it, as well as papers with No Kings written on it.

The suspected shooter is still not in custody, and a manhunt is underway. Authorities say the suspect is considered armed and dangerous. 

Anyone who sees Boelter is asked to contact law enforcement. 

Who is Vance Boelter?

Suspected MN lawmaker shooter’s name released

Authorities say the man suspected of fatally shooting Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband is 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter. FOX 9 is live with the latest on the shootings of Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman.

Dig deeper:

Boelter was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2016, then reappointed by Gov. Tim Walz in 2019 as a private sector representative to the governor’s workforce development council, with the term expiring in 2023. The Governor’s Office appoints thousands of people from all parties to these boards and commissions – the workforce development council has about 60 people on it. They are unpaid, external boards that the Minnesota Legislature creates. They are not appointments to a position in the governor’s cabinet.

Boelter has extensive experience in security operations. His current employment includes being the director of security patrols at Praetorian Guard Security Services, a security company based in the Twin Cities metro. The company provides a variety of armed home security services, including residential security patrols, uniformed armed security and event security services, according to their website. 

The company website highlights that Boelter has experience with security situations in Eastern Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East – including the Gaza Strip. He also worked at the largest U.S. oil refining company, the world’s largest food company headquartered in Switzerland, and the world’s largest convenience retailer based in Japan.

Boelter’s longtime friend and roommate told FOX 9 he was having some financial stress and how much his friendship meant to him. He texted the roommate Saturday morning saying he thinks he’d be dead soon after making some bad decisions. 

Boelter is married and has five children, his roommate said. 

Timeline of what happened

Timeline:

Here’s a look at the timeline of what we know so far: 

• About 2 a.m. on June 14: A 911 call in Champlin was made at about 2 a.m. Saturday. Police then found that Minnesota Sen. Hoffman and his wife had been shot. Both Hoffman and his wife are recovering from gunshot wounds after undergoing surgery at the hospital.
• 3:35 am.: Brooklyn Park police officers then “proactively” went to the home of Rep. Hortman, authorities say. It was there that they encountered the suspect, who was dressed up as an officer with a fake police vehicle. The suspect opened fire on officers, but the suspect fled. In the suspect’s vehicle, authorities found a manifesto with lawmakers’ names on it and papers with “No Kings” written on them.
• 5:30 a.m.: The shelter-in-place alert was sent at 5:30 a.m. by BPPD for the 3-mile radius around the Edinburgh Golf Course.
• 6 a.m.: Vance Boelter briefly returned to a home near 49th and Fremont in Minneapolis, where he rented a room part-time. He texted two of the roommates that he had made some bad choices, he doesn’t want to implicate them, and he may be dead soon. He did have vehicles at the home and broke out one of the windows, but it’s unclear if he took one of those vehicles before he fled. The image of Boelter in the cowboy hat is from the surveillance cameras at this home. The renters have been allowed back inside the home.
• Around 9:45 a.m.: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced at a press conference that Hortman and her husband had died after being shot. Walz said they’re “cautiously optimistic” about Hoffman and his wife’s recovery.
• Around 11 a.m.: Authorities and Gov. Walz urged people to not attend any political rallies until the suspect is apprehended.
• Around 11:30 a.m.: Champlin authorities say there is no current threat to public safety in the city.
• Before 1 p.m.: The Associated Press identified Vance Luther Boelter, 57, as the suspect. He was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2016 and then by Gov. Walz in 2019 to the bipartisan workforce development board. His term expired in 2023.
• About 1:30 p.m.: Police clear the scene at Hoffman’s house in Champlin.
• Around 1:45 p.m.: Police served a search warrant at a home near 49th and Fremont in Minneapolis in connection with the investigation. Authorities used battering rams to get inside. Those who are renting the home told FOX 9 Boelter was a part-time renter of a room in the home.
• 3 p.m.: Authorities named Vance Boelter as a “person of interest” and suspect in the case, and asked for the public’s help in locating him.
• 3:20 p.m.: Brooklyn Park authorities have cleared the shelter-in-place order. But an alert sent to people living in the area asks people to call 911 if you see something suspicious. Police will still be in the area collecting evidence. Meanwhile, Mercy Hospital remains on lockdown.
• 3:50 p.m.: The Hennepin County Medical Examiner released the initial reports for the Hortmans, saying Melissa Hortman, 55, and David Hortman, 58, both died of multiple gunshot wounds. A time of death was not listed, but the report says David Hortman died at North Memorial Hospital, while Melissa Hortman died at her home.
• 4 p.m.: The FBI is offering a $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Vance Boelter.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office said an investigation is underway and Brooklyn Park is the lead agency. The FBI is assisting in the investigation. Gov. Walz said he has activated the State Emergency Operations Center.

Several people have reportedly been detained and questioned, but no arrests have been made. 

Dig deeper:

Read more of FOX 9’s coverage on the shootings: 

This is a developing story, check back for updates. 

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