Former Walz Appointee Wanted in Political Double Assassination: “No Kings” Manifesto Sparks National Panic
In a stunning and horrifying turn of events, Minnesota has been thrust into chaos after the brutal killings of two prominent Democratic lawmakers — allegedly at the hands of a man once appointed by Governor Tim Walz himself.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is now the subject of a statewide manhunt after authorities say he impersonated a police officer and carried out a calculated, politically charged assassination spree that left State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband dead, and Senator John Hoffman and his wife seriously injured.
The attacks unfolded in the early hours of Saturday. According to law enforcement, Boelter, dressed in police gear and flashing a badge, forced his way into Hoffman’s Champlin residence, shooting the senator and his wife Yvette multiple times before escaping.
But he wasn’t done.
Vance Luther Boelter is a person of interest in the shooting of two Democratic lawmakers.
Police say Boelter traveled directly to the Brooklyn Park home of Rep. Hortman, where he posed as an officer and gunned down the 55-year-old lawmaker and her husband, Mark. The couple’s golden retriever, Gilbert, was also shot in the rampage. Only after exchanging gunfire with officers did Boelter flee the scene, vanishing into the pre-dawn shadows.
A Manifesto of Violence
What investigators uncovered next was even more chilling. Found in Boelter’s vehicle was a 70-name “hit list”, targeting politicians, abortion providers, and public figures — including Walz and his lieutenant governor Peggy Flanagan.
Accompanying the list was a manifesto titled “No Kings,” referencing the viral slogan of anti-Trump protests scheduled nationwide that same day. The document reportedly railed against authoritarianism, abortion rights, and immigration policies.
Surveillance images obtained by The Post show a man in a blue shirt and a cowboy hat walking. Police are looking for Vance Boelter, 57, in connection with the shootings.
Boelter, who once served on Walz’s Workforce Development Board in 2019, had more recently registered as a Republican and ran a private armed security firm. Despite the bipartisan nature of his appointment, documents show Governor Walz had personally signed off on it, stating his “trust and confidence” in Boelter’s integrity.
The governor’s office has since clarified that the board was unpaid and included members from both parties — but critics were quick to seize on the connection.
Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in the shooting, according to reports.
A House Divided
The attacks have left the Minnesota legislature reeling. Just days before her murder, Hortman broke ranks with her party to side with Republicans on a controversial bill to cut state health benefits for undocumented immigrants. The move stunned progressives — and reportedly enraged extremists.
Hortman had long been a champion of abortion rights and LGBTQ+ protections, spearheading the 2023 PRO Act that codified reproductive rights into Minnesota law. Her final vote marked a rare, tearful compromise in a tense budget standoff.
“She was devastated,” one Democratic aide told local reporters. “She knew the vote would cost her politically. No one could’ve imagined it would cost her life.”
Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who were each pumped with multiple bullets, were rushed into surgery and are in stable condition, officials said.
Senator Hoffman, who voted against the same bill, remains in critical but stable condition following emergency surgery.
National Outcry
The killings have triggered a tidal wave of reactions. Governor Walz labeled the incident a “politically motivated assassination” and called for immediate action to protect public officials. President Trump issued a rare statement via Truth Social, condemning the violence while fueling speculation about political motives.
“Our Attorney General and FBI are fully engaged,” Trump wrote. “This kind of domestic terrorism will not be tolerated.”
The shooter had fliers with the words “No Kings” in his car, referencing Saturday’s planned protests against the Trump Administration, as well as a “manifesto” and a list of other politicians’ names, said police.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, visibly shaken, described Hortman as “a true public servant to the core” and called for unity amid the rising tide of political extremism.
The Search Continues
As of Saturday evening, Boelter remains at large. Security footage shows him banging on Hoffman’s door in a cowboy hat and body armor, his police impersonation chillingly convincing.
A shelter-in-place order has been issued for a three-mile radius near the Edinburgh Golf Course in Brooklyn Park. Residents have been urged to stay indoors and avoid all contact with anyone claiming to be law enforcement without verification.
The suspect in the shooting, seen here in surveillance footage outside the Hoffman’s home obtained by The Post, was impersonating a police officer, officials said.
Meanwhile, across Minnesota and beyond, protests planned under the “No Kings” banner have been abruptly canceled.
Organizers of the national demonstrations released a statement:
“In light of the targeted political violence, we are pausing public actions and mourning the loss of lives. Our mission is to fight authoritarianism, not be consumed by its fire.”
President Trump also reiterated the likely political motivations, but did not divulge any details.
The tragedy has ignited a broader conversation about political rhetoric, extremism, and the increasingly blurred lines between activism and violence.
And as the manhunt continues, one question haunts Minnesota and the nation alike: how could a man once trusted with public responsibility turn into a symbol of political terror?
