FBI reward offered for information on Vance Boelter, suspect in MN lawmaker shootings

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (FOX 9) - The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Vance Boelter.

FBI offers reward

Law enforcement is searching for Vance Luther Boelter, 57, in connection with the targeted shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers. (Supplied)

The backstory:

The FBI announced on Saturday afternoon the agency is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Boelter, the man suspected in the shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers.

Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in their Brooklyn Park home, while Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were injured in a shooting at their Champlin home. Authorities say the suspected gunman was impersonating a police officer at the time of the shooting.

A manhunt to locate Boelter is still underway, the FBI said he should be considered "armed and dangerous."

The FBI also shared photos taken from a security camera they say shows Boelter wearing an "old man" mask made of rubber. He is pictured standing outside a home dressed in a law enforcement uniform and holding a flashlight. Further details as to where and when this photo was taken were not immediately available.

Photo shared by the FBI of the Minnesota lawmaker shooting suspect, Vance Boelter. (Supplied)

Anyone with information concerning Boelter is requested to contact the FBI's Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or the BCA at 1-877-996-6222 or via email at bca.tips@state.mn.us. You may also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Timeline of what happened

MN lawmaker shooting: The latest, timeline of what happened

Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in Brooklyn Park. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot in what police are calling a targeted attack.

Timeline:

Here's a look at the timeline of what we know so far:

About 2 a.m. on June 14

A 911 call in Champlin was made at about 2 a.m. Saturday. Police then found that Minnesota Sen. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, had been shot. Both Hoffman and his wife are recovering from gunshot wounds after undergoing surgery at the hospital. Yvette Hoffman dove in front of her child to protect her from the gunman.

3:35 a.m. June 14

Brooklyn Park police officers then "proactively" went to the home of Rep. Hortman, authorities say. It was there that they encountered the suspect, who was dressed up as an officer with a fake police vehicle. The suspect opened fire on officers, but the suspect fled. In the suspect's vehicle, authorities found a manifesto with lawmakers' names on it and papers with "No Kings" written on them.

5:30 a.m. June 14

The shelter-in-place alert was sent at 5:30 a.m. by BPPD for the 3-mile radius around the Edinburgh Golf Course.

Around 6 a.m. June 14

Vance Boelter briefly returned to a home near 49th and Fremont in Minneapolis, where he rented a room part-time. He texted two of the roommates that he had made some bad choices, he doesn't want to implicate them, and he may be dead soon. He did have vehicles at the home and broke out one of the windows, but it's unclear if he took one of those vehicles before he fled. The image of Boelter in the cowboy hat is from the surveillance cameras at this home. The renters have been allowed back inside the home.

Around 9:45 a.m. June 14

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced at a press conference that Hortman and her husband had died after being shot. Walz said they're "cautiously optimistic" about Hoffman and his wife's recovery.

Around 11 a.m. June 14

Authorities and Gov. Walz urged people to not attend any political rallies until the suspect is apprehended.

Around 11:30 a.m. June 14

Champlin authorities say there is no current threat to public safety in the city.

Before 1 p.m. June 14

The Associated Press identified Vance Luther Boelter, 57, as the suspect. He was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2016 and then by Gov. Walz in 2019 to the bipartisan workforce development board. His term expired in 2023.

About 1:30 p.m. June 14

Police clear the scene at Hoffman's house in Champlin.

Around 1:45 p.m. June 14

Police served a search warrant at a home near 49th and Fremont in Minneapolis in connection with the investigation. Authorities used battering rams to get inside. Those who are renting the home told FOX 9 Boelter was a part-time renter of a room in the home.

Around 2 p.m. on June 14

Law enforcement in Green Isle sent tactical units to a home about 5 miles southeast of town as part of the manhunt to find Boelter. Boelter has a home in Green Isle.

3 p.m. on June 14

Authorities named Vance Boelter as a "person of interest" and suspect in the case, and asked for the public's help in locating him.

3:20 p.m. on June 14

Brooklyn Park authorities have cleared the shelter-in-place order. But an alert sent to people living in the area asks people to call 911 if you see something suspicious. Police will still be in the area collecting evidence. Meanwhile, Mercy Hospital remains on lockdown.

3:50 p.m. on June 14

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner released the initial reports for the Hortmans, saying Melissa Hortman, 55, and Mark Hortman, 58, both died of multiple gunshot wounds. A time of death was not listed, but the report says Mark Hortman died at North Memorial Hospital, while Melissa Hortman died at her home.