The wife of Vance Boelter, 57, who is suspected of shooting two politicians and their partners in Minneapolis, was stopped by police in a traffic stop and found to be carrying a weapon and passports
The wife of a man suspected of shooting two US politicians and their partners was questioned by police after a weapon was found in her car along with passports during a traffic stop.
A huge manhunt is underway for Vance Boelter, 57, after Democrat Melissa Hortman, 55, and her husband Mark were shot dead at their home early on Saturday morning in Brooklyn Park, a city near Minneapolis. John Hoffman, 60, also a Democrat, and his wife Yvette were shot at their home just nine miles away in a related attack, according to police. The Hoffmans each underwent surgery, according to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz who added: “We are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt.»
Police have said that the gunman impersonated a police officer and they believe the attacks to be politically motivated. Hundreds of law officers fanned out across the Minneapolis suburb in pursuit of Boelter and now it has emerged that police stopped his wife Jenny Boelter on Saturday morning between 10am and 11am.
The shootings of the Hortmans and the Hoffmans had taken place in the early hours of Saturday. In the traffic stop by police it is understood that Ms Boelter was in a car with “other relatives” who were questioned in the Onamia area in Mille lacs County.
Witnesses said that police remained on the scene for up to three hours with the wife of the suspect. And they told KSTP that in the vehicle was a weapon, ammunition, cash and passports, but it is believed that she was only questioned and not arrested.
Meanwhile Kyle Burton, Mille Lacs County Sheriff, told FOX 9 of the traffic stop: «My office assisted law enforcement from Hennepin County on a stop near a convenience store in the city of Onamia.
«Our role on this stop was perimeter. We did not search or question any of the occupants. I was told by my staff who responded that the shooting suspect’s wife was in the car along with several other relatives.»
It is not known if Ms Boelter was living with her husband although it is understood that they both previously ran a company called Praetorian Guard Security. She was the President CEO and described as bringing “years of organizational operations and logistical oversight,” according to the company website.
Meanwhile, it said Vance Boelter had security experience in Eastern Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East, including in the West Bank, Southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
A massive search is underway for Boelter, who was dressed like a uniformed officer and operating a vehicle that «looked exactly like an SUV squad car, as it was equipped with lights, emergency lights, and looked exactly like a police vehicle,» Police Chief Mark Bruley said. A chilling image of a man believed to Boelter wearing a horror movie-style latex mask was issued.
Cops exchanged gunfire with him at Hortman’s home, but he managed to flee on foot. The FBI has offered a $50,000 (£36,859) reward for any information relating to the suspect.
