Authorities detained the wife of 57-year-old Vance Boelter, the suspect accused in the deadly shooting of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband early Saturday morning.
Boelter’s wife was stopped by police during a traffic stop near Onamia, where authorities questioned and then released her, multiple law enforcement sources told KTSP. Around a dozen law enforcement squads converged on the vehicle and remained on the scene for two to three hours, according to witnesses.
A statewide manhunt has expanded to South Dakota as authorities search to locate Boelter after he was accused of impersonating a police officer during an attack on Minnesota lawmakers. Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband were killed during the shootings in Brooklyn Park on Saturday, while Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife are now out of surgery and in stable condition after suffering severe injuries during a shooting at their Champlin home.
Boelter remains on the loose after the alleged gunman exchanged fire with officers performing a wellness check at Hortman’s residence early Saturday morning and fled on foot, authorities said. Boelter was last seen on video surveillance Saturday morning wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, per authorities, who believe the suspect is trying to leave the Twin Cities area.
President Donald Trump said during an ABC News interview Sunday that he “may” call Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) about the murders.
“Well, it’s a terrible thing. I think he’s a terrible governor. I think he’s a grossly incompetent person. But I may, I may call him. I may call other people too,” the president said.
The FBI is using “every available resource” to find Boelter as it investigates the murders. The bureau is offering up to $50,000 for information leading to Boelter’s capture and conviction.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said Boelter had crossed paths with Hoffman, noting that “there is certainly some overlap with some public meetings.” Boelter should be considered armed and dangerous, Evans said.
“The FBI and law enforcement is asking the public — if they see this guy, do not approach him,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said during a Sunday interview on ABC News. “He is evil. He is smart.”
“We believe he’s somewhere in the vicinity and that they are going to find him,” the Minnesota senator said during another interview on NBC’s Meet the Press. “But right now, everyone is on edge here because we know that this man will kill at a second.”
The suspect had a manifesto with a list of several prominent Minnesota lawmakers, including Walz. He was wearing a full police uniform and driving a vehicle outfitted with lights that contained fliers advertising “No Kings” protests. The anti-Trump demonstrations took place nationwide on Saturday.
Minnesota canceled planned “No Kings” demonstrations as the shooter remained on the loose, while Walz said no Minnesotans should attend political rallies in the state “out of an abundance of caution.”
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Boelter texted roommates that he was “going to be gone for a while” and “may be dead shortly,” according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
“David and Ron,” the suspect wrote. “I love you guys. I made some choices, and you guys don’t know anything about this, but I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn’t gone this way. I don’t want to say anything more and implicate you in any way because you guys don’t know anything about this. But I love you guys and I’m sorry for all the trouble this has caused.”