International-News

Manhunt in Minnesota: Representative Melissa Hortman killed, Senator Hoffman seriously injured

Political ambush strikes two Democratic leaders. Suspect Vance Boelter is armed and on the run: list of possible targets found

A massive manhunt is underway in Minnesota to track down Vance Boelter, 57, suspected of murdering Democratic Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and seriously injuring State Senator John Hoffman and his wife in two separate ambushes.

State authorities are calling it a politically motivated attack. According to Governor Tim Walz, Representative Hortman, the Democratic majority leader in the state House, was killed at her home in Brooklyn Park. The attacker was intercepted by police but managed to escape after opening fire.

In the fugitive’s car, officers found a list of about 70 names, including other legislators and healthcare workers involved in practices related to voluntary termination of pregnancy. CNN reports this, noting that Boelter, an employee of a private security company with military training, may have acted while wearing a latex mask.

According to investigative sources, it is not yet clear whether Boelter knew the victims personally. Senator Hoffman and his wife were shot in their home in Champlin: both underwent surgery and are now in stable condition.

After a night-time shootout with law enforcement, Boelter managed to escape and may have attempted to flee to the Canadian border, where authorities have already alerted customs officials.

The FBI has offered a reward of up to $50,000 for anyone providing information leading to the suspect’s capture.

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