FBI Releases New Photos of Suspect Tied to Minnesota Lawmakers Shootings, as Manhunt Continues Over 24 Hours Later

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released new images of Vance Boelter, the man identified as a suspect in the shootings of two Democratic lawmakers and their spouses in Minnesota this weekend.

According to a release from the agency, the FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Boelter’s arrest and conviction. The organization added that Boelter, 57, “should be considered armed and dangerous.”

The suspect can be seen in one image wearing a cowboy hat, while he appeared to be dressed in a navy outfit with apparent black tactical gear and a mask in another.

During a press conference on Saturday, June 14, hours after the tragedy, officials revealed that the suspect was last seen “wearing a light-colored cowboy hat with a dark-colored long-sleeve collared shirt or coat, light pants, and carrying a dark bag.”

The FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office is assisting both the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Brooklyn Park Police Department in the search for Boelter.

The manhunt for Boelter continues over 24 hours after state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman were killed in an attack at their home. Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman both survived a separate shooting.

Brooklyn Park Police Department Chief Mark Bruley said during the initial press conference that the suspect in the case was “absolutely impersonating a police officer” and fled “on foot” from the scene, and a “manifesto” was uncovered in a vehicle following the shootings.

Officials added that the suspect was driving a vehicle that “looked exactly like an SUV squad car” with emergency lights, in which they found the document containing a “list of names.”

CNN reported that the alleged manifesto contained nearly 70 names, including abortion providers, pro-abortion rights advocates and lawmakers in multiple states.

According to the latest release from the FBI, Boelter has brown eyes, weighs 220 pounds, stands at 6’1″ and has gray hair.

Authorities first identified Boelter as a suspect in the attacks on June 14. He worked full-time for Nestle, Del Monte, Tesoro, Marathon Speedway and 7-Eleven over the years, according to his bio on the Minnesota Africans United website.

The father and husband is also listed as the CEO of Red Lion Group — based in the Democratic Republic of Congo — since 2021, according to what appears to be his LinkedIn profile.

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Boelter was previously named by Gov. Tim Walz to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board as the “Business & Industry Representative,” according to a news release on the state’s website.

His four-year term spanned 2019 to 2023. Boelter was initially appointed to the same board under former Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton in 2016 to serve until 2018.

Walz, 61, wrote in a statement that the killing of Hortman and her husband appeared to be a “politically motivated assassination.” 

“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,” the politican continued. “We must stand united against all forms of violence — and I call on everyone to join me in that commitment.”

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is encouraging the public to “not approach” the suspect if they see him, and to instead call 911 immediately or contact the department’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension tip line if they have any information.

Anyone with information is also encouraged to contact the FBI’s Toll-Free tipline.