A tragic shooting in Minnesota has left a state senator and his wife recovering from serious injuries while two other lawmakers were killed. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot multiple times at their home early Saturday morning. They survived but were hit by a total of 17 bullets—John took nine and Yvette eight.
The attack happened in the suburbs of Minneapolis, where the Hoffmans live. Just hours later, another shooting targeted House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, resulting in their deaths. The couple was found at their home in Brooklyn Park, about eight miles from the Hoffmans.
Yvette Hoffman expressed her devastation over the loss of the Hortmans in a statement shared on social media. She described both herself and her husband as "incredibly lucky to be alive" despite the severity of their injuries. John is currently undergoing multiple surgeries, and Yvette revealed that she used her body to shield their daughter during the attack.
Authorities are searching for the suspect, identified as Vance Luther Boelter, who allegedly disguised himself as a police officer during the shootings. He reportedly fled the scene on foot after the attacks. Police have found a vehicle linked to Boelter about 50 miles from the crime scenes and have issued a warning to residents to stay alert.
Boelter, 57, has a background in security and military training. He is now on the FBI’s most-wanted list, with a reward of $50,000 for information leading to his capture. Investigators believe the shootings were politically motivated, as a list of Democratic politicians, including Governor Tim Walz and Senator Amy Klobuchar, was found in a vehicle connected to Boelter.
Local residents are in shock over the violence that has shaken their community. Many knew the victims as friendly neighbors and were deeply saddened by the events. The police investigation is ongoing, and the community is left grappling with the impact of this tragic incident.