The manhunt for a suspect in deadly attacks on Minnesota lawmakers continued into its second day on Sunday, as police extended the search over state lines to nearby South Dakota.
Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their home early Saturday morning .
Another lawmaker, state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot multiple times and injured.
Police are searching for Vance Luther Boelter, a 57-year-old who they say impersonated a police officer while carrying out the attacks. Federal authorities announced a $50,000 reward for information.
Both lawmakers belonged to Minnesota’s Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.
Senator Hoffman and his wife underwent surgery on Saturday, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he was “cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt.”
“Clearly, this is politically motivated,” US Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat who represents Minnesota, told NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday morning.
Authorities said they recovered a target list from a vehicle used by the suspect that reportedly contained the names of several Democratic politicians who supported abortion rights, as well as abortion providers. The office of Tina Smith, Minnesota’s other US Senator, confirmed to BBC News she was on the list.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) added Boelter to their most wanted list, and issued a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
“It is really not about any of us, it is this incredible woman that we lost, Melissa Hortman,” Klobuchar said. “We think about her family today.”
“I just wish everyone in the world political world knew this woman like we know her in Minnesota. Loved by Democrats and Republicans,” Klobuchar said.
President Donald Trump is aware of the situation, but it was not clear if he would reach out to the state’s leadership about the attack.
Governor Walz, a Democrat, was presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ running mate in the 2024 election.
Despite the frantic search under way across the region, the city of Brooklyn Park, where Rep. Hortman lived, was still and silent on Sunday morning as the neighbourhood came to terms with the deadly attack.
A police car stood guard outside the Hortman’s house, and bright yellow caution tape surrounded the home, now an active crime scene.
Taha Abuisnaineh, who lives across the street, said he and his wife had known the Hortmans for more than 20 years.
“They were very nice neighbours in a very quiet neighbourhood,” he told the BBC. “You don’t see police activity in this neighbourhood. We are very shocked.”
Two other nearby residents who did not want to be named said this suburban community was reeling as news spread of the attack.
“My next-door neighbour heard the shots,” said one. “We’ve all been texting back and forth.”
She and her husband described how they received an annual Christmas card from the Hortmans – and recounted how Representative Hortman got along with local Republican politicians.
“What a big loss for Minnesota,” she said.