Police manhunt continues for suspect in killing of Minnesota lawmaker and husband

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Police on Sunday continued their search for Vance Boelter, the suspect in the politically motivated killing of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of state senator John Hoffman and his wife.

Senator Amy Klobuchar told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday that the shooter was still “in the Midwest”, with an alert sent out in South Dakota as well as Minnesota.

The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Boelter, who they said was armed and dangerous.

Hortman was killed at her home in Brooklyn Park, a short drive from Champlin, the northern Minneapolis suburb where Hoffman lived and was attacked. Hoffman and his wife remained in a stable condition in hospital as of Saturday evening.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described the shootings on Saturday as acts of “targeted political violence”. 

Boelter, a pastor who also ran a local security services firm, is alleged to have approached both lawmakers early on Saturday morning dressed as a police officer before opening fire. He was said to have used what appeared to be a police vehicle. The website for his security services firm, Praetorian Guard, shows Ford sport utility vehicles similar to those used by local law enforcement officials.

The security services’ website features claims that Boelter has been involved with security situations in eastern Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East, including the West Bank, southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

It also says he has worked for the largest US oil refining company, the world’s largest food company based in Switzerland and the world’s largest convenience retailer based in Japan.

A LinkedIn profile listed as Boelter’s states his role as chief executive of Red Lion Group, listed as based in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A manifesto found in the vehicle used by Boelter to drive to the homes of the two Democratic lawmakers also featured prominent abortion rights campaigners along with other local politicians, according to interviews with lawmakers.

State documents show that Boelter was appointed by Walz’s to serve on the governor’s Workforce Development Board.