Fairfax police step up security for legislators

Fairfax County police officers are patrolling around the homes and neighborhoods of elected officials following the attacks on legislators in Minnesota.

A gunman posing as a police officer assassinated Melissa Hortman, a member of the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, in their home outside Minneapolis early this morning.

The suspect is also wanted for shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in their home. The Hoffmans are hospitalized, with officials cautiously optimistic about their survival. Both legislators are Democrats.

The suspect has been identified as Vance Boelter, 57, the New York Times reports. He fled the scene after a shootout with police. According to the Times, Boelter had papers in his car indicating he was planning to target one of the “No Kings” rallies protesting President Trump on the day of his military parade.

“The FCPD senior leadership convened this morning to review the known circumstances of the targeted attacks on elected officials in Minnesota by a gunman impersonating a police officer,” according to a tweet by the Fairfax County Police Department.

“Our patrol officers and other assets are preparing to enhance our presence around homes and neighborhoods of legislators and other elected officials,” the police department states. “Any direct personal contact with elected officials at their homes by FCPD will include two uniformed police officers. There is no intelligence linking these attacks to Fairfax County.”