NOTE: VIDEO BELOW
The political landscape in Minnesota has been shaken to its core following a pair of violent, coordinated shootings that left one prominent lawmaker dead and another fighting for his life. Early Saturday morning, June 14, tragedy struck when gunmen targeted the homes of two Democratic state legislators in what officials are now calling a “targeted political attack.”
Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were both fatally shot in their Brooklyn Park home. Just hours earlier, State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were seriously injured in a separate attack at their residence in Champlin. Both underwent surgery and are reportedly in recovery.
President Donald Trump responded swiftly, confirming he had been briefed on the “terrible” events. He emphasized that the attacks appeared to specifically target Democratic lawmakers and pledged full federal cooperation. “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America,” Trump said in a Saturday morning statement. He confirmed that the FBI and Attorney General Pam Bondi are now involved in the investigation.
Authorities have named 57-year-old Vance Boelter as the prime suspect. Boelter, a former appointee under Governors Tim Walz and Mark Dayton, allegedly posed as a police officer to access the homes. He reportedly fled after exchanging gunfire with police at the second crime scene and remains at large.
Governor Walz called Hortman “a formidable public servant” and urged Minnesotans to resist violence and embrace civil discourse. “We are not a country that settles differences at gunpoint,” Walz said, visibly shaken during a press conference.
Boelter’s background is now under scrutiny. Once active in the state’s food sector, he launched a security firm in 2021 and was known to have political ties. His motives remain unclear, though officials recovered documents suggesting premeditation and possible political grievances.
In the wake of the attacks, conversations are intensifying about the safety of elected officials and whether increasingly volatile rhetoric is fueling political violence. Walz, who was scheduled to headline a “No Kings” political event this weekend, withdrew in the aftermath of the shootings. His past remarks—particularly his controversial reference to federal immigration authorities as “Gestapo”—have reignited fierce debate among critics and supporters alike.
The suspect is still on the loose. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activity, and call the designated tip line if they have information.
What’s your take? Are we witnessing the consequences of extreme political division—or something even more dangerous?
