According to family and news reports, the wife of a Minnesota state senator who was injured in a targeted overnight assassination attempt bravely protected their daughter as a masked shooter opened fire, barely escaping the couple’s critical organs.
According to State Sen. John Hoffman’s nephew, Yvette Hoffman threw herself over their adult daughter Hope as accused shooter Vance Luther Boelter fired numerous rounds inside their suburban Minneapolis home early on Saturday morning.
“In a political act of terrorism, an absolutely disgusting individual dressed as a police officer broke into my aunt and uncle’s home early this morning and shot him six times and my aunt five times. Mat Ollig posted on Facebook, “My aunt threw herself on her daughter, using her body as a shield to save her life.”
According to KARE11, one bullet nearly hit Democratic State Senator John Hoffman in the heart. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, had both had surgery and were in stable condition, according to his nephew, Tim Ollig. According to KMSP, Yvette was reported to be awake and responsive as of Saturday evening. Hope Hoffman, their twentysomething daughter, was unharmed in the shooting.
It is thought that the suspect’s violent outburst began at the couple’s Champlin home, which was covered in bullet holes. Around 3:30 in the morning, Minnesota House Speaker Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed by the alleged shooter, Vance Luther Boelter, who allegedly drove to Brooklyn Park from there.
Authorities claim that before shooting the couple at their door, Boelter pretended to be a police officer, complete with uniform and badge. Hortman, 55, passed away at the scene, and her husband later passed away at a nearby hospital from his wounds.
Brooklyn Park police arrived at the Hortmans’ residence shortly after Boelter was observed leaving in response to reports of the earlier shooting in Champlin. After exchanging gunshots with the officers, the suspect fled after retreating inside the house.
Police set up a three-mile perimeter around Brooklyn Park and began an urgent manhunt. Authorities advised citizens to stay alert, avoid interacting with suspicious people, and only open doors for pairs of officers, even though the lockdown was lifted later that day.
According to KTSP, Boelter’s wife, Jenny Boelter, was arrested for interrogation after being stopped with multiple family members close to Onamia, Minnesota.
The alleged shooter, Vance Boelter, had a background in public service; former Governor Mark Dayton had appointed him to the Workforce Development Council in 2016, and Governor Tim Walz had reappointed him to the Workforce Development Board in 2019.
According to police, Boelter left behind papers titled “No Kings,” which may have been a reference to anti-Trump demonstrations, and a manifesto listing 70 political figures, including Governor Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
The New York Post was informed by sources that the list also contained Planned Parenthood locations, abortion clinics, and providers. Both targeted pro-choice lawmakers, Rep. Melissa Hortman and Sen. John Hoffman. Whether Boelter had strong anti-abortion beliefs is being investigated by investigators.
