Law enforcement officers with the River Valley Tactical Team, prepare to visit the home of Vance Luther Boelter, who officials describe as a person of interest in the killing of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of Sen. John Hoffman, near Green Isle, Minn., Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Anthony Souffle | Star Tribune via AP
A massive manhunt continues on Sunday after a gunman impersonated a police officer early Saturday morning and killed Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in what was called a “politically motivated assassination.”
The suspect, who authorities identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, also allegedly shot Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in a separate attack Saturday morning. The couple is in stable condition as of Sunday morning.
Authorities said during a Sunday evening briefing that it remains a “very active investigation.”
“We continue to conduct interviews on the investigative piece, not only to learn his whereabouts, but also to follow up on the case and gather the information as part of the prosecution related to him,” said Drew Evans, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal apprehension in Minnesota.
Authorities earlier on Sunday located what they believe to be the suspect’s vehicle in Sibley County, Minnesota, about an hour outside of Minneapolis, NBC affiliate KARE of Minneapolis reported.
Evans said that authorities found “items of evidence” in the car “that are relevant to this investigation,” without disclosing specifics on the items.
He said that more than 100 law enforcement officers and a number of SWAT teams are searching for the suspect in Sibley County.
“It’s moments like this that we search for answers to something that defies understanding,” Champlin Mayor Ryan Sabas said.
Officials during the Sunday evening briefing reiterated the call to the public to reach out to a tip line if they have any information on the suspect. Callers can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension tip line at 1-877-996-6222 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us.
The FBI is offering up to $50,000 for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction.
Minnesota is reeling after the attacks, and lawmakers and the public are on edge as the gunman remains at-large.
Authorities said the suspect was carrying a list of other potential targets, including a number of officials and lawmakers.
Evans clarified that the list included “other thoughts” interspersed with the names, in addition to other documents, without providing additional information.
“Right now, everyone [is] on edge here, because we know that this man will kill at a second,” Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Klobuchar said that law enforcement authorities believe the gunman could still be in the Midwest.
“We believe he’s somewhere in the vicinity, and they are going to find him,” Klobuchar said.
She emphasized that if any individual encounters the suspect, he or she should immediately call the tip line.
This image provided by the FBI on Saturday, June 14, 2025, shows part of a poster with photos of Vance L. Boelter.
F.B.I. via AP
Statements poured in after the attacks, mourning the death of Hortman, who served as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives until earlier this year.
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz posted a photo of Hortman on X on Sunday and wrote, “the most consequential Speaker in state history.”
Klobuchar remembered Hortman as a true “true public servant” who was loved by lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle.
Lawmakers also condemned the act of political violence, which Gov. Walz said appeared to be politically motivated.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that “such horrific violence will not be tolerated” in the United States.
