Hundreds of police officers are taking part in the hunt for the suspected murderer Vance Boelter.
The FBI has issued a reward of 50,000 dollars to anyone who provides a tip that can lead to Boelter's arrest. The FBI has also released images of the suspect – one of Boelter in a cowboy hat and one of what is believed to be the shooter dressed in a rubber mask and police uniform.
The politician who was shot dead is Democrat Melissa Hortman, who previously served as Speaker of the state congress. Hortman and her husband were shot on Saturday at their suburban villa in Brooklyn Park.
Also, Democratic state senator John Hoffman and his wife have been shot, but are being treated in hospital.
”May be dead”
When the police were to investigate the shooting, they were met by a man dressed as a police officer on his way out of Hortman's house. A car that resembled a police car was also found at the scene. The man opened fire on the police and after an exchange of shots, the perpetrator fled on foot, according to the local police chief.
Several media outlets, including Swedish DN, have spoken to the suspect's childhood friend and landlord David Carlson, who says that Boelter sent an SMS after the double murder.
”I will be away for a while. I may be dead soon”, he is said to have written.
I feel betrayed, I feel angry, I feel sad for his family's sake and for the sake of his victims, says Carlson to DN.
One can get upset over a politician. But to throw away one's life like this? It's incomprehensible. He must have had mental problems. But he hid them deep within himself. I never saw it in him.
Had death list
According to American media, Vance Boelter is an evangelical Christian and appears to have been motivated by a hatred of abortions. He is employed by a security company and is said to have undergone military training.
In his car, the police found a manifesto along with a list of 70 names of Democratic politicians, abortion activists, or people with connections to abortion clinics. However, the authorities have not yet said anything about the motive.
