Following the targeted shootings of two Minnesota Democratic lawmakers early Saturday morning, the Minnesota State Patrol reported discovering flyers with the phrase “No Kings” inside the suspect’s abandoned vehicle.
The discovery has sparked concerns about a possible link to anti-Trump protests planned across the state, leading authorities to urge the public to steer clear of such demonstrations for safety reasons.
Authorities have identified 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter as the suspect sought in connection with the early-morning shootings that left one Minnesota lawmaker and her husband dead, and another lawmaker and his wife seriously injured.
At a press conference, officials released a photo of Boelter wearing a tan cowboy hat at a Minneapolis business shortly after the attacks on Saturday morning. Another image, also shared by authorities, shows the masked suspect dressed in police-style tactical gear and carrying a flashlight.
Boelter is accused of fatally shooting former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their home in Brooklyn Park. In a separate incident in Champlin, State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot multiple times. Both are expected to recover after undergoing surgery.
The suspect remains at large after fleeing on foot following a shootout with police at the Hortman residence. He left behind a fake police SUV outfitted with emergency lights.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley confirmed that a manifesto recovered from the suspect’s vehicle listed several lawmakers and officials, including Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman, as intended targets. The “No Kings” flyers, previously reported by the Minnesota State Patrol, have drawn scrutiny for their apparent connection to nationwide protests planned for Saturday that oppose President Trump’s policies.
“When we did a search of the vehicle, we did find a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials. We immediately made alerts to the state to provide security wherever necessary,” Bruley said in a press conference.
Authorities, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, have condemned the shootings as “politically motivated” acts of violence. In response, the State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to support the ongoing manhunt for the suspect.
The State Patrol issued a statement discouraging attendance at the “No Kings” protests, citing the overnight attacks: “Given the targeted shootings of state lawmakers, we are asking the public to not attend today’s planned demonstrations across Minnesota out of an abundance of caution.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Boelter is listed as the CEO of Red Lion Group, a company based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is also identified as the director of Praetorian Guard Security Services, a security firm reportedly established by his wife, according to the company’s website.
“I have been doing projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa for the last three years with the Red Lion Group,” Boelter wrote on his LinkedIn page last month, noting that he is currently open to work.
Boelter has an extensive background in security, with reported experience in Africa, North America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, including the Gaza Strip, according to the website of Praetorian Guard Security Services. The site states he received training from members of the U.S. military and private firms, and features images of tactical gear and law enforcement-style uniforms.
Family members and representatives of Praetorian Guard Security Services did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Boelter reportedly holds a Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service from Cardinal Stritch University and was previously appointed to Minnesota’s Workforce Development Board by two governors, according to Fox 9.
“He was reportedly initially appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2016, before being reappointed by Gov. Tim Walz in 2019 as a private sector representative to the council. He previously served on the same board as Hoffman before his term expired in 2023,” Fox News reported.