Latest news with #politicallyMotivated
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota Lawmaker John Hoffman Out of Hospital After 'Politically-Motivated' June Shooting
John Hoffman is out of the ICU after being shot nine times during a home invasion Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called it a "politically motivated assassination' after Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot and injured. Democratic state rep Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were also fatally shot in their home just over an hour earlier Vance Boelter was arrested by police following a 43-hour manhunt on June 15Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman has been released from the hospital after he was shot multiple times during a "politically motivated assassination' attempt, though he still has a ways to go before he's physically healed. Family spokesperson Bess Ellenson told CNN on Tuesday, July 8, that the 60-year-old lawmaker 'still has a long recovery ahead,' WKOW reported. "I can confirm John is out of the ICU and at a rehab facility," the spokesperson said in a written statement, per CBS News. A photo shared by Ellenson showed the Democrat standing in a hospital room, giving the camera a thumbs up as a suitcase was positioned near him. Hoffman spent three weeks in an intensive care unit after he and his wife Yvette Hoffman were attacked by a gunman in their home in Champlin around 2 a.m. local time on June 14. He was 'struck nine times' as the 'weapon was pointed directly at him,' while Yvette was 'also hit eight times by gunfire,' the Hoffmans later said in a statement. The couple, along with their daughter Hope were awakened by 'sounds of pounding on the front door and shouts of someone seeking entry, identifying himself as a police officer,' the family said. The gunman was able to gain entry through their front door. After her parents were shot, 'Hope then rushed to shut the door and secured the lock; she got to the phone and shared with the 911 operator that Senator John Hoffman had been shot in his home,' their statement continued. 'Her brave actions and quick thinking triggered the notice to public safety officials that a politically-motivated act was potentially underway.' Approximately 90 minutes before the Hoffmans were attacked, Melissa Hortman, a Democratic representative in the state, and her husband, Mark Hortman, were fatally shot inside their Brooklyn Park home. Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested by police following a 43-hour manhunt on June 15, WKOW reported. He was described as a white male with brown hair, who was wearing a blue shirt, blue pants and black body armor. Police found a list of 45 elected officials and notes about their homes in his car, along with firearms, ABC News previously reported. During a press conference hours after the shootings, Gov. Tim Walz said, "We're here today because an unspeakable tragedy has unfolded today in Minnesota. My good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark, were shot and killed earlier this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination.' Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. 'I assure you that those responsible for this will be held accountable, and each and every one of us are committed to making sure that a tragedy like this never repeats itself in Minnesota or across this country,' Walz, 61, added later in his speech. Boelter is facing federal and state charges, including murder, stalking, and weapons offenses, WKOW said. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Amy Klobuchar says authorities believe suspect in lawmaker shootings is still in the Midwest
WASHINGTON — Sen. Amy Klobuchar said that authorities believe Vance Boelter, the 57-year-old suspect in a pair of "politically motivated" shootings, is still in the Midwest, noting that "he may be" in Minnesota and that authorities have put out an alert in South Dakota. "We believe he's somewhere in the vicinity and that they are going to find him," Klobuchar, D-Minn., said during an interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press." "But right now, everyone is on edge here because we know that this man will kill at a second." NBC News has not been able to independently verify that an alert has been put out in South Dakota. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that the Mitchell Regional Public Safety dispatch issued a "be on the lookout" alert, but an official from the Mitchell, South Dakota police department did not have knowledge of an alert specifically in South Dakota and told NBC News that the department is not aware of any indication that the suspect is in their area. Klobuchar's comments come after a Democratic Minnesota lawmaker and her husband were killed early Saturday in what Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., said appears to be "a politically motivated assassination." State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were severely injured, Walz said. Authorities have identified the shooting suspect as 57-year-old Vance Boelter of Minnesota. Klobuchar emphasized that if people see Boelter, they "should not approach him, that they should immediately call the tip lines and report." Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said on Saturday that they found a "manifesto" in Boelter's vehicle with names of other officials. An official who saw the list on the suspect's 'manifesto' previously told NBC News that it targeted prominent people in Minnesota who advocated for reproductive rights. After the shootings, Klobuchar said that she has received extra security without her request. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a Saturday statement that he asked the Capitol Police to "immediately increase security" for Klobuchar and Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., also put out a statement on Saturday saying that he asked the "the House Sergeant at Arms and United States Capitol Police to ensure the safety of our Minnesota delegation and Members of Congress across the country." "I think they're concerned about everyone," Klobuchar said of receiving added security. She said that she does not have confirmation as to whether she was on Boelter's list. The senator said that she was concerned that "this guy is going to come up against just an innocent: Try to take their car, try to go into their house." "Because a lot of the political leaders in our state have received extra protection, but not the innocents out there," she said. Smith, who has discussed being on the suspect's list, said in a Sunday interview on CNN that it was 'deeply concerning' to be named. She said that 'the level of threat that lawmakers are exposed to is just unacceptable.' 'I'm grateful that I personally feel safe, but this is no way for our government to work when people, any any number of us, feel this kind of personal threat,' Smith said on CNN. Klobuchar mourned the loss of the couple killed, remembering that she was at a large political dinner with them the night before they died. "Everyone was rejoicing, happy, the session's behind them, and that was the last time so many of us saw Melissa and Mark," Klobuchar said on NBC News, referring to the late lawmaker and her husband. "And the next morning, 5 a.m., the governor, Governor Walz, calls me and tells me that we believe that she's no longer with us." Klobuchar remembered the late lawmaker as a friend, recalling how Hortman juggled being a mother, Sunday school teacher, girl scout leader, on top of her political career, eventually becoming "this extraordinary Speaker of the House." "When you think about political violence and the statistics of political violence, you've got to realize the people who are behind it and a true public servant that we lost," Klobuchar said. This article was originally published on
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Minnesota ‘gunman' Vance Boelter arrested after largest manhunt in state history following horror shooting rampage
VANCE Boetler, the suspected of shooter of Minnesota Rep Melissa Hortman and her husband, has been arrested after the state's largest-ever manhunt. After two days of intense searching where the net slowly closed in on Boetler, he was eventually found hiding in the woods and taken into custody on Sunday evening. 4 4 4 The public had been warned not to approach the 57-year-old, and he was armed when they arrested him in a rural area in Sibley County, southwest of Minneapolis. A massive manhunt was launched on Saturday after Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot dead at their home in what officials called a "politically-motivated assassination". Cops said the same gunman had earlier shot and wounded Democrat senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their home nine miles away earlier on Saturday morning. The gunman reportedly disguised himself as a police office to trick his victims. Police quickly located a vehicle of interest and the cowboy hat they believe Boelter was wearing when he was last seen in the Twin Cities area. Fliers for No Kings - a group against President Trump's perceived overreach of power - were found in suspect's car. The bits of evidence were found on Highway 25 in Sibley County roughly halfway between Green Isle, where Boelter has a property, and Belle Plaine. Boetler faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder. Hoffman and his wife were severely after being shot multiple times and had to undergo emergency surgery. After they got out of the operation room, governor Tim Walz said he was "cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt". . 4
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Klobuchar on Minnesota shooter's motivation: There's ‘some through line with abortion'
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said the deadly shooting of former Minnesota state Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband on Saturday was politically motivated, noting that there was some 'through line with abortion' after his list of targets was found to include abortion advocates and facilities. 'Clearly, this is politically motivated,' she told NBC's 'Meet The Press' host Kristen Welker on Sunday when asked about a possible motive for the suspected shooter, who was identified as Vance Boelter, 57. He also shot state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, who were wounded. Klobuchar mentioned Boelter's list of targets, which was found in his car. The list included 'prominent pro-choice individuals in Minnesota, including many Democratic lawmakers who have been outspoken about pro-choice policy positions,' an official who has seen the list told The Hill's sister network NewsNation. 'It was politically motivated, and there clearly was some through line with abortion because of the groups that were on the list, and other things that I've heard were in this manifesto. So that was one of his motivations,' she said. Klobuchar noted that investigators are also looking into any possible interaction between the lawmakers and Boelter prior to the shooting. 'But again, they're also checking out, did he have interaction somehow with these … legislators? Is there more to this?' she said. However, Klobuchar advised viewers not to speculate and let police 'do their jobs.' 'They obviously have information we don't have,' the Democratic senator said. 'And so what we've been trying to do as political leaders is make really clear we will have plenty of time to analyze what happened here, but right now it is trying to report any sighting of this person, and to be very careful, and to listen to what law enforcement says. Because the advice has changed for obvious reasons over time. And that is what we have to do right now.' Her comments come after the FBI announced that it launched a manhunt for Boelter. Additionally, a $50,000 award is being offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction in the shooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Officials provide updates on search for Minnesota shootings suspect
Officials in Minnesota provide updates on the manhunt for the 57-year-old man suspected of shooting two state Democratic lawmakers in a targeted attack. Authorities in Minnesota have mobilized state and local police, SWAT teams and K-9 units across multiple counties. Vance Boelter, 57, is accused of committing the 'politically motivated' shootings.
