Authorities are in pursuit of Vance Luther Boelter, a man suspected of political assassinations in Minnesota. Boelter is believed to have murdered a prominent Democratic state legislator and attempted to assassinate another. Despite these allegations, Boelter was previously appointed to a state advisory board by Democratic Governor Tim Walz.
Boelter, 57, is accused of assassinating Democratic Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in their suburban Minneapolis home. The incident, which occurred early Saturday, has been described by Governor Walz as “targeted political violence.” Boelter is also suspected of severely injuring another Democratic legislator, Senator John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, at their residence in Champlin, a northern suburb of Minneapolis.
Boelter reportedly impersonated law enforcement officers to gain access to the lawmakers’ homes and later engaged in a shootout with the police. The FBI has released security camera footage believed to show Boelter wearing a latex mask resembling an elderly man’s face. A $50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his capture.
Boelter’s political affiliations remain unclear. His roommate stated that Boelter held conservative views and was a supporter of former President Trump. However, he was not overtly political and rarely discussed politics. Boelter split his time between a job in Minneapolis and his family’s farm in rural Green Isle, about 50 minutes from the city.
Following the shootings, Boelter sent a chilling message to his friends, hinting at his possible demise and expressing regret for his actions. When authorities searched Boelter’s car, they discovered a list of targeted individuals, including several politicians and abortion providers.
Boelter’s professional background is as puzzling as his political affiliations. He spent much of his career in the food industry, working for companies like Nestle and Del Monte. He also claimed to be the head of a security company in Minnesota and had connections to central Africa. Despite these claims, his roommate stated that the security company never had any clients or employees.
As the manhunt for Boelter continues, the motivation behind his alleged crimes remains unknown. His only public criminal record in Minnesota consists of minor traffic violations. The search for Boelter has led to shelter-in-place orders in parts of suburban Minneapolis and warnings to residents in South Dakota to be on the lookout for a maroon Buick potentially driven by an armed and dangerous individual.