FBI offers $50K reward for suspect in shootings of Minnesota lawmakers

Published: Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 12:30 pm

**FBI Offers Reward in Minnesota Lawmaker Shootings**

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the arrest of Vance Boelter, the suspect in the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses.

Boelter is accused of fatally shooting state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband early Saturday morning. He is also accused of wounding state Senator John Hoffman and his wife in a separate, earlier attack. Authorities have stated that both shootings were targeted and appear to be politically motivated.

The attacks occurred at the lawmakers' residences, which were located a distance from each other. Law enforcement responded to the Hoffman residence following reports of gunfire and subsequently began wellness checks on other lawmakers. During one of these checks, officers encountered the suspect at the Hortman residence, where he fired shots at them before fleeing the scene.

Authorities have not disclosed any information regarding Boelter's current location. However, investigators have received a message from Boelter to a friend following the shootings. The message did not explicitly admit to the crimes but indicated that he would be "gone for a while" and possibly "dead shortly."

Law enforcement recovered several AK-style firearms from Boelter's vehicle. According to the Associated Press, citing a source familiar with the investigation, he is believed to still be armed with a pistol. The public is urged not to approach Boelter if spotted and to immediately contact 911.

BNN's Perspective: The targeting of elected officials and their families is a deeply troubling development. Regardless of political affiliation, such acts of violence undermine the foundations of our democratic process. It is crucial that law enforcement apprehends the suspect swiftly and that the investigation uncovers the full motivations behind these attacks. The safety of public servants and the integrity of our political discourse must be protected.

Keywords: FBI, reward, Minnesota, lawmaker, shooting, Vance Boelter, Melissa Hortman, John Hoffman, violence, politically motivated, arrest, firearms, investigation, suspect, crime

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