Overnight shootings targeted two Minnesota legislators
We are awaking to the disturbing news that two Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) legislators were apparently targeted at their homes overnight in Champlin and Brooklyn Park.
Reports indicate at least three people have been shot, two at the home of Senator John Hoffman, Chair of the Human Services Committee, and at least one at the Brooklyn Park home of Representative Melissa Hortman, Speaker Emerita of the Minnesota House.
KSTP reporter Tom Hauser has reported that sources indicated Sen. Hoffman and Rep. Hortman are among those shot and injured.
The shootings took place after 2 a.m., beginning at Senator Hoffman’s residence when a man arrived and shot at least two people, before leaving. Some time later, eight miles away in Brooklyn Park, it is believed the same man shot at least one person at Rep. Hortman’s home.
The suspect is described as follows: “…white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement.”
MNCrime reported that the suspect was driving a distinctive “dark-colored SUV with a push-bumper, a spotlight on the driver’s side, and red-and-blue flashing lights mounted on both the dash and rear window — equipment resembling an unmarked squad vehicle.”
Update: MPR and other outlets are reporting at 10:40 a.m. that Rep. Hortman and her husband Mark have both died as a result of the shootings in Brooklyn Park and that Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette were both shot at their Champlin residence, but that authorities are cautiously optimistic that they will survive.
According to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Brooklyn Park Police responding to Sen. Hortman’s residence actually encountered the suspect at about 3:35 am and engaged in a shootout with the suspect who was able to flee the area.
As of this moment, no arrests or speculation on the identity of the shooter have been made.
Update: As of 3 p.m., multiple new outlets have identified the suspect as Vance Luther Boelter, 57. Boelter is an executive with Praetorian Security, establishing the connection with the unmarked squad car type SUV, and the police like uniform worn by the suspect during the murders.
During a late morning press conference, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley relayed that his officers had responded to Rep. Hortman’s address as a proactive welfare check after the earlier shooting at Sen. Hoffman’s home in Champlin. As Brooklyn Park officers arrived, the suspect’s police like vehicle was in the driveway with the emergency lights on. As the officers approached the house, the suspect came out the front door and immediately began firing a gun at officers. The suspect fled back into the house and eventually out the back door. He remains at large. Rep. Hortman and her husband were found deceased in the residence.
The BCA has reported Boelter was last seen at a location in Minneapolis at an undisclosed time. The photo above is of Boelter, captured by a business camera.
The term “manhunt” is often overused when a crime occurs. In this case, an active manhunt involving multiple agencies and SWAT teams is underway in an attempt to locate Boelter. Law enforcement had not officially confirmed Boelter’s identity to prevent compromising several searches underway.
There has been a significant amount of speculation as to the motive of these shootings and of Boelter’s political leanings. He was obviously targeting these DFL lawmakers, and law enforcement confirmed that they had seized a list of other potential targets, presumably in the SUV Boelter was forced to abandon outside Rep. Hortman’s home. It will be wise to allow law enforcement to complete its investigation, which will take time and will depend on when Boelter is located, before drawing any conclusions.