Following the targeted shootings of two Minnesota Democratic lawmakers, authorities identified 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter as the suspect. Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed at their Brooklyn Park home, while State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were seriously injured in Champlin. Boelter, dressed in tactical gear and using a fake police SUV, fled after a shootout with police. Flyers reading “No Kings” were discovered in his abandoned vehicle, raising concerns about a link to anti-Trump protests scheduled across Minnesota. A manifesto found in the SUV listed several lawmakers as targets, prompting a security alert and warnings from officials, including Gov. Tim Walz, who condemned the shootings as politically motivated. The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated, and the State Patrol advised the public to avoid planned demonstrations for safety.
Boelter is reported to be the CEO of Red Lion Group, a company based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and director of Praetorian Guard Security Services, a firm linked to his wife. His professional background spans Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and North America, with training from U.S. military personnel and private firms. His LinkedIn notes work in Congo over the past three years, and he claims to hold a Ph.D. in Leadership. Boelter was previously appointed to Minnesota’s Workforce Development Board by two governors and served alongside Hoffman. Family members and his company have yet to respond publicly. A manhunt for Boelter remains ongoing.
