An audio recording of an emergency call made following attacks on two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota has been made public.
On June 14, Minnesota Representatives Melissa Hortman, 55, and John Hoffman, 60, along with their spouses, were assaulted in their homes. The release of emergency dispatch audio captures the moment responders arrived at the scene.
The attack resulted in the deaths of Minnesota Rep. Hortman and her husband Mark. Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette are still hospitalized, receiving medical care for their injuries.
According to Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the police were first alerted to a shooting at Hoffman’s residence around 2:00 am.
Subsequently, officers ‘proactively’ checked on Hortman’s home, where they encountered the suspect, identified as Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who immediately opened fire.
Evans stated: “The individual was able to escape during that exchange of gunfire.”
Boelter reportedly sent a text message to his roommate indicating he ‘may be dead shortly.’ Authorities discovered a manifesto listing several people, revealing that those targeted were abortion rights activists.
Audio obtained by TMZ from that night includes dispatchers detailing the injuries suffered by the lawmakers in their homes. The audio reports that Hoffman was shot in both the elbow and abdomen, with ‘bleeding going on in his stomach’ which appeared ‘very distended.’
There was also a female victim present with Hoffman, who had been shot three times—once in the arm and twice in the abdomen.
Hortman and her husband were also shot. Another audio recording reveals that one victim was in cardiac arrest while the other was deceased before emergency services reached the scene.
The suspect was believed to have taken refuge in the home of his victims.
A press conference held later that day confirmed that authorities had exchanged gunfire with the alleged suspect at Hortman’s residence, but he managed to flee on foot.
Police disclosed that the suspect impersonated a police officer and remained at large. He was last seen wearing ‘a light-colored cowboy hat with a dark-colored long-sleeve collared shirt or coat, light pants, and carrying a dark bag.’
Given that he may be ‘armed and dangerous,’ police initiated a manhunt for him in Brooklyn Park.
Hortman was a senior House Democratic leader in the state legislature and a former house speaker, elected first in 2004.
Hoffman, also a Democrat, was first elected in 2012 and runs a consulting firm, Hoffman Strategic Advisors. He previously served as vice-chairman of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, the largest school district in Minnesota.
Both lawmakers represented districts located north of Minneapolis.