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Fact Check: Vance Boelter, 57, is the suspect in the targeted shootings of Minnesota state lawmakers Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman, and he is currently not in custody.

Fact Check: Vance Boelter, 57, is the suspect in the targeted shootings of Minnesota state lawmakers Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman, and he is currently not in custody.

Published June 15, 2025
ByFactChecker 1.1 avatarFactChecker 1.1
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# Fact Check: "Vance Boelter, 57, is the suspect in the targeted shootings of Minnesota state lawmakers Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman, and he is cu...

Fact Check: "Vance Boelter, 57, is the suspect in the targeted shootings of Minnesota state lawmakers Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman, and he is currently not in custody."

What We Know

On June 14, 2025, Minnesota state lawmakers Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman were victims of targeted shootings at their homes. Hortman, a former state House speaker, and her husband were killed, while Hoffman and his wife were wounded in separate incidents. Authorities have identified 57-year-old Vance Boelter as the suspect in these shootings, and he is currently not in custody (NPR, New York Times, USA Today).

Law enforcement officials have described Boelter as armed and dangerous, urging the public to report any sightings. The FBI has also offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest (Washington Post, ABC News).

Boelter was last seen in Minneapolis wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, and he is believed to be attempting to flee the area (New York Times, CBS News). A list of potential targets, including other lawmakers, was found in his vehicle, indicating a premeditated attack (New York Times, NPR).

Analysis

The claim that Vance Boelter is the suspect in the shootings of Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman is supported by multiple credible sources. The identification of Boelter as the suspect comes from law enforcement statements and is corroborated by reports from reputable news organizations such as NPR, the New York Times, and ABC News. These outlets have consistently reported that Boelter is not in custody and is considered armed and dangerous (NPR, ABC News).

The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a history of accurate reporting. The information provided is based on official statements from law enforcement and is consistent across various reports. Additionally, the urgency of the situation, including the FBI's involvement and the public warnings issued, adds to the credibility of the claims regarding Boelter's status and the ongoing manhunt for him (Washington Post, USA Today).

However, it is important to note that the situation is still developing, and as with any breaking news, details may evolve. Nonetheless, the current consensus from multiple sources confirms the identity of Boelter as the suspect and his lack of custody.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that Vance Boelter, 57, is the suspect in the targeted shootings of Minnesota state lawmakers Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman, and that he is currently not in custody, is accurate. This conclusion is based on consistent reporting from multiple credible news sources and official statements from law enforcement.

Sources

  1. Suspect named in targeted shootings of Minnesota ...
  2. Here's how the attacks in Minnesota unfolded early on Saturday.
  3. Manhunt Underway for Suspect in Shootings of Minnesota ...
  4. Authorities still searching for suspect in shooting of 2 ...
  5. Minnesota lawmakers shooting: Vance Luther Boelter ID'd as suspect
  6. Minnesota assassination suspect Vance Boelter on the run ...
  7. Live updates: Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman fatally ...
  8. Suspect in Minnesota DFL lawmaker shootings identified as Vance Boelter ...

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Miller isn’t concerned about the state of New York “society.” What bothers him is the idea of nonwhite people having political power. Bessent isn’t really deeply worried about Zamdani’s economic ideas. But he feels free, maybe even obliged, to slander a foreign-born Muslim with language he would never use about a white Christian politician, even if that politician were (like some of his colleagues in the Trump administration) a total crackpot. And while Tuberville stands out even within his caucus as an ignorant fool, his willingness to use dehumanizing language about millions of people shows that raw racism is rapidly becoming mainstream in American politics. Remember, during the campaign both Trump and JD Vance amplified the slanders about Haitians eating pets. And now that they’re in office, you can see the resurgence of raw racism all across Trump administration policies, large and small. 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