Lists of new potential victims were found in the home and car of the suspect in the murder of Democratic state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, 57-year-old Vance Luther Bolter, CNN reports, citing sources.
Bolter is a resident of Sibley County, Minnesota. The murder took place in nearby Hennepin County on the night of June 14. Another Democratic politician, state Senator John Hoffman, was also wounded at the same time, and his wife was also injured. Police believe Bolter was involved in both crimes. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information about him.
Searches were conducted in Sibley. During these searches, police found lists of other potential victims, mostly Democrats. The first list, which was found in a car, contained 70 names, while the one found at Bolter’s home named more than a dozen new individuals.
The Wall Street Journal writes that the lists also included those who support women’s abortion rights. A friend of Bolter told CNN that the man was against abortion. Abortion is not prohibited in Minnesota.
The suspect entered the Hortman home by posing as a police officer. He shot the congresswoman and her husband at point-blank range. Shortly before that, he went to the Hoffmans’ house, where he also opened fire.
The police were close to catching Bolter after the Hortmans’ murder: the shooter was spotted as he was leaving their house, but the man opened fire on the police and managed to escape.
Bolter had worked with Hoffman in the past, according to CNN.
State Governor Tim Walz (who was a vice presidential candidate alongside Kamala Harris in the 2024 election) called the incident a “politically motivated murder,” RBC reports.