Minnesota Lawmakers Killed, Others Wounded in Politically Motivated Shootings

Minnesota is reeling from a politically motivated shooting spree carried out by Vance Luther Boelter, a 57-year-old former state official, who impersonated a police officer to target Democratic lawmakers. Boelter fatally shot Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband at their Brooklyn Park home, and seriously wounded State Senator John Hoffman and his wife at their Champlin residence. Authorities found a manifesto and a list of targeted political figures, including several prominent Democrats, in Boelter’s fake police vehicle, revealing a broader planned attack. A manhunt is ongoing as Boelter remains at large, with law enforcement engaging in a gunfight with him during the incident. Governor Tim Walz condemned the shootings as assassinations and expressed cautious optimism about the Hoffmans' survival, while President Donald Trump denounced the violence, stating it will not be tolerated. The shooting has deeply shocked the state, with officials and colleagues mourning the loss of Hortman, a respected leader and former Speaker of the Minnesota House.