A viral interview shows Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman visibly shaken after voting against healthcare funding for undocumented immigrants. Just a day later, she and her husband were fatally shot at their Brooklyn Park home.
In a separate attack, State Sen.
John Hoffman and his wife were also shot but survived. Authorities have identified 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter—an ex-security operative with international ties—as the suspect. A manifesto found in his abandoned fake police vehicle listed both lawmakers among targets. Speculation has grown that Hortman’s lone opposition to the immigration funding provision may have motivated the attack. Governor Tim Walz labeled the shootings politically motivated and activated the State Emergency Operations Center. Officials have discouraged attendance at planned “No Kings” protests, citing public safety concerns. Boelter, reportedly trained in military tactics and formerly active in Central Africa, remains at large. His background and apparent targeting of political figures have escalated fears of further violence across Minnesota.