THE suspect in the Minnesota shootings has been identified as a former appointee of Governor Tim Walz.
In the early hours of Saturday, a gunman posing as a police officer shot and killed Minnesota Rep Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home in Brooklyn Park.
Vance Boelter, A former appointee of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is being sought in connection with the assassination and shootings[/caption]
He also shot Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette multiple times at their home in Champlin just hours beforehand, leaving them seriously injured.
Hoffman and his wife have both undergone surgery at the Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and are said to be in a stable condition.
As cops launch an extensive manhunt for the gunman, sources close to the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have said 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter is wanted in connection to the shootings, per AP.
Boelter is a former appointee of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, per the Post.
Documents obtained by the outlet show that he was appointed by Walz in 2019 to serve on his Workforce Development Board for four years.
In 2016 he was on the Workforce Development Council under the previous Governor Mark Dayton.
He is listed as living in Green Isle, Minnesota.
The gunman posed as a police officer to gain entry to the lawmakers’ homes, cops revealed.
Walz led a press conference earlier on Saturday to confirm the deaths of Hortman and her husband Mark in what he called a “politically motivated assassination”.
“This was an act of targeted political violence,” Walz said.
“Those responsible for this will be held accountable and each and every one of us are committed to making sure a tragedy like this never repeats itself,” he added.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the shootings ‘an act of targeted political violence’[/caption]
The security of other elected officials has been ramped up as the manhunt continues[/caption]
The Governor has not publicly commented on the reports that his former appointee is a suspect in the ongoing investigation.
Cops were called to their residence around 3:35 am, less than three hours after the shooting at the Hoffmans’ home.
Hortman and her husband were pronounced dead at the scene where officers exchanged fire with the suspect who managed to flee on foot.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
Senator John Hoffman Minnesota and his wife were shot multiple times[/caption]
Hoffman and Yvette have both undergone surgery and are said to be in a stable condition[/caption]
Governor Tim Walz full statement
Today Minnesota lost a great leader, and I lost a friend.
A formidable public servant and a fixture of the state Capitol, Melissa Hortman woke up every day determined to make our state a better place.
She served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, and tirelessness.
Minnesota’s thoughts are with her loved ones, and my prayers are with Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who were shot and wounded and are being treated.
We are not a country that settles our differences at gunpoint.
We have demonstrated again and again in our state that it is possible to peacefully disagree, that our state is strengthened by civil public debate.
We must stand united against all forms of violence – and I call on everyone to join me in that commitment.
To the responding officers, thank you for your bravery and your swift action.
A state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigation is underway, and we will spare no resource in bringing those responsible to justice.
We will not let fear win.
