[By Guancha Observer Network, Xiong Chaoyan] On June 14th local time, a shocking serial murder case occurred in Minnesota. On that day, a man impersonated a police officer and killed her and her husband at the home of Melissa Hortman (Melissa Hortman), a Democratic member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. John Hoffman (John Hoffman), a Minnesota State Senator and also a Democrat, as well as his wife, were shot and injured by the same man about 15 kilometers away from their residence.

According to the Associated Press, Tim Walz, the current governor of Minnesota and former Democratic candidate for vice president, has characterized this incident as a "politically motivated assassination." The local government confirmed that the suspect is a 57-year-old man named Vance Boelter (Vance Boelter). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered a $50,000 reward for the capture of the fugitive suspect.

CNN reported that the suspect was suspected of wearing a latex mask to disguise himself during the attack. A photo released by the local government showed that the suspect later wore a brown cowboy hat. Drew Evans, director of the Minnesota Criminal Arrest Bureau, did not provide detailed information about the suspect's possible motive.

Records show that Boelter served as a political appointee on the Minnesota Workforce Development Council at the same time as Hoffman, but it is currently unclear whether they knew each other or the extent of their understanding. A Minnesota official told the Associated Press that the suspect's written materials contained threat content targeting several well-known congressmen who support abortion rights.

This shooting incident occurred against the backdrop of nationwide political leaders being attacked, harassed, and intimidated due to deep political divisions. "We must oppose all forms of political violence in Minnesota and across the country," Walz said at a press conference. "The perpetrator will be held accountable."

Hoffman (left, injured) and Hortman (deceased) - AP News

Two pairs of legislative couples attacked, one couple deceased

The 55-year-old Hortman has been the highest leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives' Democratic Party since 2017. In 2023, during her tenure as Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, she emphasized expanding protection for abortion rights, including consolidating Minnesota's status as an "abortion sanctuary state"—ensuring patients from restrictive states can seek abortion services in the state and protecting medical personnel providing these services.

Walz described Hortman as "an awe-inspiring public servant, a pillar and giant of Minnesota." "She woke up every day with the determination to make this state better. She is irreplaceable."

Reportedly, after the shooting incident, Hortman died on the spot, and her husband passed away after being sent to the hospital. The preliminary autopsy report stated that their cause of death was "multiple gunshot wounds." It is known that Hortman and her husband had two adult children.

Hoffman (left, injured) and Hortman (deceased) previous photo - Material Photo

The 60-year-old Hoffman was first elected as a Minnesota State Senator in 2012 and currently serves as chairman of the Senate Public Services Committee. He and his wife have one daughter.

The Chappell Police Department in Minnesota, where Hoffman resides, stated that shortly after 2 a.m. local time on June 14th, they received a report of gunshots at Hoffman's home and found multiple gunshot wounds on both the husband and wife.

After learning about the identities of the victims, the police sent personnel to check Hortman's home. There, they allegedly discovered a police car, and a man dressed as a police officer was standing at the door, about to leave the house.

Hortman's residence is located in the Brooklyn Park area of Minnesota. Mark Bruley, chief of the Brooklyn Park Police Department, said: "When the police confronted him, this person immediately fired at the police. The suspect retreated into the house and fled on foot."

Walz said that Hoffman and his wife both underwent surgery. "We are cautiously optimistic that they will survive this assassination attempt," he said at the press conference.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated in a statement that the FBI would participate in the investigation. "Our Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI are investigating this matter, and they will prosecute any involved persons to the fullest extent of the law. This kind of terrible violence cannot be tolerated in the United States of America. God bless the great people of Minnesota; this is truly a great place!"

Suspect once "associated" with the attacked legislator

State records show that Boelter was appointed as a member of the Minnesota Workforce Development Council in 2016 and re-elected in 2019 for a four-year term, which expired in 2023.

Company records show that Boelter's wife applied to create a company called Vanguard Security Services LLC. The mailing address of this company is the same as the couple's address on Green Island. On the company's website, Boelter's wife is listed as president and CEO, while he is listed as security patrol supervisor.

FBI wanted poster - CNN

The homepage of the website shows that the company provides armed security services for various properties and events and displays a photo of an SUV painted with black and silver dual-color patterns, similar to police cars, with a light bar on top and the words "Vanguard" on the doors. Another photo shows a man wearing black tactical gear, military helmet, and bulletproof vest.

An online resume shows that Boelter is a security contractor who worked in the Middle East and Africa and held management positions in some companies in Minnesota.

After the shooting incident, hundreds of police officers from Minnesota spread throughout the town, some wearing tactical gear and holding assault weapons, setting up checkpoints. Police issued mobile phone alerts in the early morning, asking the public to stay indoors and stating that they were searching for a "armed and highly dangerous" suspect.

The alert said: "Suspect is a white male, brown hair, wearing a blue shirt and pants, wearing a black bulletproof vest, may impersonate law enforcement. Do not approach, call 911 immediately."

In the afternoon, the police lifted the shelter-in-place order, stating that there was reason to believe the suspect had left the area.

Douglas Thompson, a 62-year-old resident of Brooklyn Park, said: "This is crazy. Someone targeted legislators. This is wrong, and I hope they catch him." Lisa Demuth, speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives and a Republican, described the attack as "evil" and expressed "indescribable heartbreak" over these killings.

Wearing a latex mask, making the suspect harder to find?

A law enforcement official familiar with the case told CNN that investigators are looking into whether the suspect was wearing a latex mask during the attack.

John Miller, CNN's chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst, said that the suspect wearing a mask "is entirely possible" to change his appearance during the crime so that the police would search for someone resembling the masked figure rather than Boelter.

Miller said that in a series of photos posted by the FBI on the social media platform X that afternoon, one photo showed the suspect wearing a mask. "If you look closely at that photo, he seems to have shaved his head... that is likely a mask, a rubber mask worn on the head," Miller said. "If you notice the eye sockets, there is only one hole. If you notice the ears, there is only one hole, which looks different from his other photos."

Suspect may have worn a latex mask during the attack - CNN

The Associated Press pointed out that this shooting incident is the latest in a series of attacks targeting lawmakers from both parties.

In 2020, anti-government extremists plotted to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (Gretchen Whitmer) and attempted to instigate a "civil war"; in 2022, former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked with a hammer in his San Francisco home.

In April this year, a suspect set fire to Josh Shapiro's (Josh Shapiro), Pennsylvania's Democratic governor's home, forcing him and his family to flee in haste during the Passover holiday (a Jewish festival). According to court documents, the suspect said that if he found Shapiro, he intended to use a short-handled hammer to carry out the attack.

In July 2024, during Trump's campaign period, an assassination attempt on him failed in Pennsylvania. Two months later, a gun-wielding man was found and arrested near his golf course in Florida.

Chuck Schumer, Democratic leader of the U.S. Senate, said he requested the Capitol Police to "immediately strengthen" security protection for Minnesota Democratic federal senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. He also requested a briefing from Senate Majority Leader and Republican John Thune on issues of lawmaker safety.

Schumer said on the social media platform X: "Condemning violence is important, but it is not enough. We must confront the poison of extremism and take more measures to protect each other, protect our democracy, and protect the values that bind us as Americans."

This article is an exclusive contribution by the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reproduced without permission.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7515980307552649755/

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