Latest news with #politicallyMotivatedAssassination
CNN
18-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Police investigate apparent break-in at slain Minnesota lawmaker's home
FacebookTweetLink Follow Police in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, are investigating an apparent break-in at the home of state Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was shot and killed at the house with her husband, Mark Hortman, early Saturday in what Gov. Tim Walz called 'a politically motivated assassination.' 'The home appeared to have been searched by an unknown individual; however, the family has indicated that they don't believe anything is missing,' Brooklyn Park Police said in a news release. Any evidence related to the Hortmans' shooting deaths had already been removed from the house by crime scene investigators, according to police. Authorities had placed a police trailer camera at the front of the home, but someone pried off the plywood covering the rear window and broke the glass to get inside, police said. Brooklyn Park Police are looking into the break-in, and crime scene investigators returned to the house to gather evidence. Police are asking neighbors to check surveillance cameras and report anything suspicious. Prosecutors say Vance Boelter, dressed like a police officer, visited the homes of at least four Minnesota lawmakers, shooting and killing Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband, as well as shooting and severely wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Officials said Boelter, 57, had an hit list of dozens of targets, which were largely Democrats or figures with ties to Planned Parenthood or the abortion rights movement. The search for Boelter lasted 43 hours and was the largest manhunt in Minnesota history. He faces six federal charges and four state charges.
Forbes
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Manhunt For Minnesota Shooting Suspect Vance Boelter Enters Second Day (Live Updates)
In what Gov. Tim Walz has characterized as a 'politically motivated assassination,' Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in their home while state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and are receiving care—and the alleged suspect, Vance Boelter, remains at large as a manhunt continues for a second day. Minn. State Rep. Melissa Hortman on Jan. 3, 2023, in St. Paul, Minn. The FBI announced a $50,000 reward 'for info leading to the arrest and conviction of Vance L. Boelter,' and released a photo (below) that reportedly shows the suspect at the door of one of the shooting victims, apparently wearing a head-covering mask and police costume, early Saturday morning. A police alert warned that the 'suspect is armed and dangerous and may be impersonating law enforcement,' according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. 'My good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination,' Walz said at a press conference Saturday. At 10:33 a.m. on Saturday, Walz said Hoffman and his wife were 'out of surgery' and receiving care, and that 'we are cautiously optimistic that they will survive this assassination attempt,' though Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, was not able to provide an update in an afternoon news conference on the senator's status. Boelter texted two of his roommates, one told the Minnesota Star Tribune, saying he wrote that he 'may be dead shortly.' According to the roommate, the text read: 'I love you guys. I made some choices, and you guys don't know anything about this, but I'm going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn't gone this way. I don't want to say anything more and implicate you in any way because you guys don't know anything about this. But I love you guys and I'm sorry for all the trouble this has caused.' President Donald Trump issued a statement Saturday on the shootings, saying he had 'been briefed on the terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota,' and 'such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America.' Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino posted on X the bureau 'is working in collaboration with our local and state partners.' The FBI released an image of who they believe is Vance Boelter, who appears to be wearing a mask and ... More police outfit while at the front door Saturday morning of one of the shooting victims. Authorities from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety released this photo and public alert ... More about the suspect in the killing of a state representative. Minnesota police released these images of suspected shooter Vance Boelter. At a press briefing at around 4 p.m. EDT, state police shared images of the suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, characterizing him as a 6-foot-1 inch white male, about 220 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, and said he was wearing a light-colored cowboy hat and dark shirt when last seen. Authorities asked the public to call 911 if they see Boelter, but not to approach him, as he's considered armed and dangerous. Local police told the Minnesota Star Tribune that, early Saturday morning, they noticed an SUV with emergency lights and someone who initially appeared to be a police officer at Hortman's door, but the person, allegedly Boelter, 'immediately fired at officers' after being confronted, and fled back into the house. Mark Bruley, the chief of police in Brooklyn Park, said police searched the vehicle and uncovered a list that identified 'many lawmakers and other officials,' including Hortman and Hoffman, according to MinnPost. CNN reports Boelter's apparent list included 70 names, including 'abortion providers,' and 'pro-abortion rights advocates.' Police also said they found sheets of paper with 'No Kings' written on them, a likely reference to the widespread protests planned for Saturday. CNN also reported Boelter, according to a law enforcement official, works for a Minnesota-based security company named Praetorian Guard Security. He is listed on the company website's leadership page as director of security patrols, and described as having 'on the ground experiences combined with training by both private security firms and by people in the U.S. Military.' This photo provided by Minnesota State Patrol shows writings in the fake police car law enforcement ... More officials believe Vance Boelter allegedly used in the shooting of two Democratic legislators in Minnesota on Saturday. Hortman, 55, was a top Democratic leader in the Minnesota Legislature. First elected in 2004, she served as House speaker from 2019 to 2025 and spearheaded key legislation, including universal free school lunches statewide and a red flag gun law—which allows police or family members to petition the courts to have a gun removed from those considered a threat to themselves or others—according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. Hoffman, 60 and also a top Democrat in the legislature, is a member of the state Senate first elected in 2012. He served as chair of the Human Services Committee, according to CBS News, and has also served on committees for energy, environment and health services.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
John Hoffman's Wife 'Threw Herself in Front' of Their Daughter to Protect Her in ‘Politically Motivated Assassination,' Family Says
Minnesota Senator John Hoffman's wife Yvette Hoffman threw herself in front of the couple's daughter when they were attacked by gunfire on June 14 Gov. Tim Walz has since called the incident a "politically motivated assassination" Melissa Hortman, another Democratic representative in the state, and her husband, were killed in the attackMinnesota Senator John Hoffman's wife Yvette Hoffman threw herself in front of the couple's daughter to protect her after they were targeted in what is being referred to by Gov. Tim Walz as a "politically motivated assassination." Matt Oleg, Hoffman's nephew, spoke with KARE 11's A.J. Lagoe, telling the journalist that their family was "told that a bullet just very nearly missed Senator Hoffman's heart, that his wife Yvette is in better condition, she had no organs pierced, and that she saved the couple's daughter's life." "The daughter Hope, who I believe is in her mid-twenties, was at home with her parents, and Yvette threw herself on top of her daughter," Lagoe continued, recalling the information shared with him by Oleg. He added that Hope "was not hit" by gunfire. Oleg further told Lagoe that John and Yvette "are both out of surgery, they're stable," and "minutes ago had been trying to bring the senator out from under anesthesia." Police were first alerted to the attack that took place at the Hoffmann residence around 2 a.m. local time, Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said in a June 14 press conference. FOX 9 and local NBC affiliate KARE 11 reported that Hoffman resides in Brooklyn Park. Authorities then 'proactively' checked on Melissa Hortman, a Democratic representative in the state. There, they encountered the suspect, who 'immediately' fired at them, Evans said, adding, "The individual was able to escape during that exchange of gunfire." Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were killed in the attack. Brooklyn Park then issued a shelter-in-place order while searching for the suspect, who was representing himself as law enforcement, according to KARE 11. The suspect is being described as a White male with brown hair, who was wearing a blue shirt, blue pants and black body armor. During the June 14 press conference, Walz said he was "cautiously optimistic that John and Yvette "will survive this assassination attempt,' which he also described as "an act of targeted political violence.' Oleg also told KARE 11's Lagoe that the Hoffman family had been at a fundraiser shortly before the incident took place. "They were enjoying a good night out and came back, and then, you know, this assassination attempt happened in the middle of the night," Lagoe said. "But the family says they are very hopeful right now and that they're getting positive messages coming out of the hospital regarding Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette," the reporter continued. Lagoe also said that Oleg and the wider Hoffman family were told by medical professionals that things are looking "hopeful." Read the original article on People
