The man accused of killing a Minnesota House lawmaker and her husband and wounding two others has been identified as 57-year-old Vance Boelter, a one-time appointee of Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.
Police identified Mr. Boelter to news outlets hours after confronting the shooter in the driveway of Rep. Melissa Hortman, the former speaker of the Minnesota House.
Ms. Hortman, 55, and her husband, Mark, were killed by the shooter, who was dressed like a law enforcement official.
In a separate shooting, the suspect wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
Ms. Hortman was a Democrat, as is Mr. Hoffman.
News outlets produced a document showing the appointment of a person named Vance Boelter to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board for a four-year term that ended in 2023. The appointment to the bipartisan board was signed by Mr. Walz.
Mr. Boetler previously served on a workforce development board under former Gov. Mark Dayton, also a Democrat.
A website for Praetorian Guard Security Services lists Dr. Vance Boelter as “Director of Security Patrols.” His wife, Jenny, is listed as president and CEO of the company. A LinkedIn page said he earned a Ph.D. in education.
Mr. Boelter’s biography describes his involvement with “security situations” in Eastern Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East, including the West Bank, Southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
The company website said he “focused all of this experience to make sure Praetorian Guard Security Services covers the needs you have to keep your family and property safe.”
Police haven’t publicly announced the suspect’s name but leaked it to The Associated Press, CBS News and other outlets.
The suspect’s car, which police discovered parked in the Hortmans’ driveway, was decked out with emergency lights.
According to police, the suspect had a list in his car of other intended targets, all of them Democratic lawmakers. His car seat was littered with fliers advertising the “No Kings” protests planned for Saturday by left-wing organizations in opposition to President Trump.
Mr. Walz, in a press conference Saturday, called Ms. Hortman’s death “a politically motivated assassination.”
The governor and the Minnesota State Patrol asked people not to join the “No Kings” protests until the suspect is apprehended. The demonstration’s organizers canceled events in the state in the afternoon.
The shooter’s motive is not clear.
Ms. Hortman recently crossed party lines to help pass a bill to stop illegal immigrant adults from accessing the state’s public health insurance program, MinnesotaCare.
Mr. Hoffman voted with most of his party in the Minnesota Senate to allow that access, although the repeal ultimately passed with the help of other Democrats.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.