Stores shuttered, police roadblocks, a shocked and anxious population: A manhunt was underway in Minnesota, in Minneapolis and its surrounding areas, after the politically motivated assassination of a local lawmaker took place early in the morning of Saturday, June 14. The crime, both serious and sophisticated, has once again raised the question of lawmakers' safety in the United States, as polarization reaches new highs.

Authorities identified the suspect as Vance Luther Boelter, a 57-year-old man. Around 2 am, a police patrol responded to a call reporting gunfire in a suburb of the city of Champlin. They discovered John Hoffman, a Democratic state senator, and his wife Yvette, both shot and wounded, at their home. They were taken to hospital. As a precaution, another police car from neighboring Brooklyn Park decided to check on the area's most prominent political figure, Melissa Hortman, to ensure her safety.

Hortman, a 55-year-old Democratic lawmaker, served as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2024. She lived with her husband about 15 kilometers from the site of the first attack. When officers arrived at her home at around 3:30 am, they were surprised to see a car resembling their own parked at the entrance, emergency lights flashing. A person dressed as a police officer was leaving the house. He opened fire, retreated inside, then managed to escape on foot, according to investigators.

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