(BBC News) A manhunt is under way in Minnesota after two state lawmakers were targeted and one of them killed on Saturday morning in what Governor Tim Walz called an “act of targeted political violence”.
Melissa Hortman, 55, a Democrat, and her husband were killed in Brooklyn Park, a city near Minneapolis.
John Hoffman, 60, also a Democrat, and his wife were shot several times at their home about 15 km away in a related attack. He is out of surgery and stable.
A search is on for the suspect who police say was impersonating an officer. He has been named as Vance Luther Boelter, 57. There is a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
He served on the state’s workforce development board with Hoffman, a state senator, but officials are still investigating whether he knew either politician.
Police said he tricked his way into the victims’ homes using a false badge and uniform and was driving a car that looks like a police vehicle equipped with emergency lights.
The first emergency call was made at 02:00 local time regarding the incident involving state senator Hoffman and his wife.
Then another call was placed to police at 03:35, which led officers to check on House Speaker Hortman.
The police exchanged gunfire with the suspect at Hortman’s home, but he managed to escape.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said police are engaged in an “extensive manhunt” alongside the FBI, SWAT and hundreds of police officers. He said police took the suspect’s car and believe he is travelling on foot.
Authorities are warning people in the area not to answer their door for a police officer unless there are two officers together.
Elected officials across the state were put on alert and “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump were called off after flyers for the demonstrations were found in his car.
In a statement, Trump said “such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America,” and authorities would be “prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law.”
