The quiet suburbs of the Twin Cities aren't exactly where you expect to see a full-scale tactical manhunt or a string of political assassinations. But on June 14, 2025, that's exactly what happened. It was a Friday night that bled into a Saturday morning of absolute chaos.
People are still trying to wrap their heads around the fact that two high-profile Minnesota lawmakers were shot in their own homes. We're talking about Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Senator John Hoffman. This wasn't some random street crime or a robbery gone wrong, even though the shooter reportedly tried to claim it was. It was a surgical, cold-blooded series of attacks that has fundamentally changed how security works for elected officials in the North Star State.
The Night Minnesota Lawmakers Were Shot
It all started around 2:00 a.m. in Champlin.
Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were asleep when someone started pounding on their front door. The guy outside was shouting that he was a police officer. Honestly, who wouldn't open the door? When the Hoffmans did, they saw a man in what looked like a legitimate police uniform.
But things felt off immediately.
The man was wearing a silicone face mask—a "realistic" old man disguise—and tactical gear. John Hoffman, sensing the danger, allegedly shouted "You're not a cop" and tried to shove the door shut. That's when the gunman, later identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, opened fire. He didn't just fire once. He shot John Hoffman nine times. He shot Yvette Hoffman eight times.
Miraculously, they both survived. Their daughter, Hope, was also in the house. Her parents actually pushed her out of the way to take the brunt of the bullets. She survived with minor injuries from hitting a washing machine, but she wasn't hit by the gunfire.
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The Attack on Melissa Hortman
Boelter didn't stop at the Hoffman residence. He had a list.
After leaving Champlin, he reportedly went to the homes of two other legislators. One wasn't home. At the other, a real police officer was already on the scene doing a welfare check, which likely saved another life because Boelter drove off.
By 3:30 a.m., he reached the Brooklyn Park home of Melissa Hortman, the Speaker Emerita of the Minnesota House.
He used the same tactic: a fake police SUV with flashing lights and a fake uniform. He told Melissa’s husband, Mark, that he was doing a "welfare check." When Brooklyn Park police arrived—having been tipped off by the shooting in Champlin—they saw Boelter's vehicle.
It was too late.
Boelter fired into the house, killing Mark Hortman at the threshold. He then stormed inside. Security footage reportedly showed Melissa Hortman trying to run upstairs to safety. She didn't make it. Boelter shot and killed her, and even killed the family's golden retriever, Gilbert.
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Who Is Vance Boelter?
The man behind the trigger wasn't a stranger to the political scene, which makes this even weirder. Vance Boelter had actually served on the Minnesota Governor’s Workforce Development Board. He’d been appointed by Mark Dayton and reappointed by Tim Walz.
Walz’s office later clarified they didn't really "know" the guy—these boards have hundreds of people on them—but it’s a chilling detail.
Boelter was a "prepper." His ex-wife told investigators they were deep into survivalist culture. When police finally searched his Ford Explorer (which was tricked out to look like a squad car), they found:
- Five firearms, including semi-automatic rifles.
- A "hit list" with nearly 70 names on it.
- Notebooks full of addresses for state and federal officials.
- Flyers with "No Kings" slogans.
He was caught two days later hiding in a field in Green Isle. Just a guy in a field after a two-day manhunt that involved the FBI, the BCA, and local swat teams.
The Fallout and Political Climate
You can't talk about this without mentioning the tension in Minnesota right now. While the Boelter case is moving through the courts—he pleaded not guilty in August 2025—the state is currently dealing with a whole new wave of unrest.
As of January 2026, the focus has shifted toward federal enforcement. Just last week, an ICE agent fatally shot a woman named Renee Nicole Good in North Minneapolis.
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This has sparked massive protests.
Democratic lawmakers, led by Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy and Representative Fue Lee, are now demanding that ICE be kicked out of the state. They’re calling it another example of "unnecessary force." You have the 2025 assassinations on one side and these 2026 federal shootings on the other. It’s a powder keg.
Why This Still Matters
The reason people keep searching for "Minnesota lawmakers shot" is because the trial for Vance Boelter is a massive looming event. It’s not just about the murders; it’s about the fact that he was able to use the "trust of the badge" to get into these homes.
Law enforcement agencies across the country are now re-evaluating how they conduct wellness checks. If a cop shows up at 3:00 a.m., do you open the door? After what happened to the Hortmans, a lot of people are saying "no way."
Real-World Safety Insights
If you’re concerned about the security of public officials or just general home safety in the wake of these impersonation attacks, here is what experts are suggesting:
- Verify the Identity: If a "police officer" shows up at an odd hour without a clear reason, call 911 immediately to verify that a car was actually dispatched to your address. Real officers will understand the precaution.
- Invest in Tiered Security: The Hortmans had a doorbell camera, which provided evidence, but it didn't stop the entry. Reinforced strike plates and solid-core doors are the "un-fancy" tech that actually buys you time.
- Monitor the Legal Proceedings: Follow the Hennepin County Attorney’s updates on the Boelter trial. The prosecution is looking to upgrade charges to first-degree murder, which carries a life sentence.
- Stay Informed on the ICE Probe: The 2026 shooting of Renee Good is currently being investigated by the FBI, though local officials like Mary Moriarty are fighting for state-level oversight.
The grief in St. Paul is still very real. Melissa Hortman was the first woman to lie in state at the Minnesota State Capitol. Thousands of people showed up. It was a somber reminder that the "political divide" isn't just about arguments on Twitter—sometimes, it has much darker, more permanent consequences.