Suspect in Fatal Shooting of Rep. Melissa Hortman and Her Husband, and Separate Shooting of Senator John Hoffman and His Wife, Identified — Details
The quiet of a Minneapolis suburb was shattered on Saturday as law enforcement launched an intense manhunt for a man accused of a politically charged shooting that claimed the life of a prominent Minnesota lawmaker and left another seriously injured.
According to state authorities, 57-year-old Vance Boelter is the suspect in the fatal shootings of House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, inside their Brooklyn Park residence.
The same day, Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were wounded at their home in nearby Champlin. The two crime scenes, only nine miles apart, have been linked by what officials believe is a coordinated attack motivated by political animosity.
Governor Tim Walz described the killings as a “politically motivated assassination,” underscoring the grave implications of the violence. The FBI has issued a $50,000 reward for information that can lead to Boelter’s arrest and conviction.
Boelter was last seen wearing a tan cowboy hat, captured in surveillance footage. Authorities revealed that he was impersonating a police officer during the attacks, using a vehicle equipped with emergency lights and sirens.
The suspect remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Law enforcement agencies, including hundreds of officers, are actively combing the region in hopes of capturing him before he can flee the area or inflict further harm.
As the search intensifies, more is being uncovered about the man at the center of this unfolding tragedy. Dr. Boelter is no stranger to security operations. His professional background spans volatile regions in Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, including high-tension zones like the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
He claims experience with private security contractors as well as training alongside U.S. military personnel. In recent years, Boelter positioned himself as a security expert in the private sector.
He has held roles with several multinational corporations, including a major U.S. oil refining company, a leading Swiss-based food manufacturer, and a global retail chain headquartered in Japan.
Most notably, he has been serving as the CEO of Red Lion Group since 2021, a role highlighted prominently on his LinkedIn profile. Boelter also founded Praetorian Guard Security Services, where he promoted a mission of safeguarding families and property, leveraging what he described as a combination of field expertise and high-level strategic training.