June 15, 2025

Minnesota lawmaker assassination: FBI manhunt ends with suspect arrest

73-name hit list with addresses leads to largest manhunt in state history

🛡️National Security⚖️Justice

Vance Boelter shot and killed Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark at their Brooklyn Park home on Jun. 14, 2025.

Boelter shot State Senator John Hoffman nine times and his wife Yvette eight times at their Champlin home at approximately 2 a.m. the same morning; both survived.

Investigators found a list of approximately 70 potential targets in Boelter black Ford Explorer, including Governor Tim Walz, Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and abortion providers.

Boelter obtained victims addresses using 11 registered data broker websites, with notebooks documenting which sites were free and what information they required.

Law enforcement conducted a 43-hour manhunt—the largest in Minnesota history—involving 20 SWAT teams, FBI, ATF, and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The FBI offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Boelter arrest.

Law enforcement arrested Boelter in a field in Green Isle, Minnesota, approximately one mile from his residence, at 9:15 p.m. on Jun. 15, 2025.

Boelter disguised himself as a police officer using body armor, tactical vest, hyper-realistic silicone mask, and drove a retired police Ford Explorer with flashing lights.

Federal prosecutors charged Boelter with two counts of stalking, two counts of murder through use of firearm, and two counts of firearms offenses.

Minnesota state prosecutors charged him with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson confirmed Boelter did not leave a manifesto, only scattered writings and a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel.

🛡️National Security⚖️Justice

Test Your Knowledge

Which federal charge might Boelter face in addition to state murder counts?

Which agency analyzed the suspect’s digital footprint?

Roughly how many names did investigators find on the suspect’s hit list?

What reward amount did the FBI offer?

What disguise did the suspect use?

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People, bills, and sources

Melissa Hortman

Minnesota House Speaker Emerita (murder victim)

Mark Hortman

Melissa Hortman husband (murder victim)

John Hoffman

Minnesota State Senator (shooting victim, survived)

Yvette Hoffman

John Hoffman wife (shooting victim, survived)

Hope Hoffman

John and Yvette Hoffman adult daughter

Vance Boelter

Suspect charged with murders and shootings

Tim Walz

Minnesota Governor

Ilhan Omar

U.S. Representative (MN-5)

Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson

Federal prosecutor (Minnesota)

Senator Ron Wyden

U.S. Senator (D-OR)

What you can do

If you witness or receive information about threats to public officials, submit tips securely at tips.fbi.gov or call your local FBI field office.

Track proposed federal legislation related to domestic-terrorism funding or law enforcement oversight on congress.gov.

Contact your U.S. senators and representative to express support for balanced threat-assessment programs that protect both public safety and civil liberties.

Monitor policy updates and guidance on domestic terrorism response via the Department of Justice website (justice.gov).

Learn about your voting rights and election security measures at the U.S. Election Assistance Commission website (eac.gov).