On June 14, 2025, Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman (DFL) and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot in their Brooklyn Park home around 3 a.m. by a man posing as a police officer while wearing a creepy Halloween mask. Hours later, State Senator John Hoffman (DFL) and his wife were shot and wounded in a similar attack at their residence. The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, has been arrested for murder and attempted murder in what Governor Tim Walz described as a “politically motivated assassination.”

Boelter was appointed by Governor Tim Walz in 2019 and by former Governor Mark Dayton in 2016 to Minnesota’s Workforce Development Board, where he served as a private sector representative alongside Senator John Hoffman until his term expired in 2023.

The manifesto reportedly referenced “No Kings,” a phrase tied to an anti-establishment sentiment, and included flyers with similar messaging found in his vehicle.

He was also employed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services in minor roles under Walz’s administration.

Boelter has claimed affiliations with a private security firm, Red Lion Group, and described himself as a security expert with experience in the Gaza Strip and South Africa.

Boelter allegedly impersonated a police officer, using a vehicle resembling a police SUV during the attacks.

A manifesto found in his abandoned vehicle contained a “hit list” with nearly 70 names, targeting Minnesota Democratic lawmakers, abortion service providers, and pro-choice advocates. Specific names mentioned include Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Senator Tina Smith, and Attorney General Keith Ellison, though the full list has not been publicly released.