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Shelter-in-Place Order Issued in Minnesota after Gunman Shoots Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and Their Spouses. State Representative Melissa Hortman and Spouse Killed in Shooting While State Senator John Hoffman and Spouse Hospitalized with Injuries; Parade Celebrating 250th Anniversary of Founding of U.S. Army to Take Place in Washington D.C.; Protests against President Trump Taking Place in All 50 States; Israel Continues Bombing Iranian Targets Tied to Nuclear Weapons Production; Suspect in Shooting of Minnesota State Representative and Senator Identified as Man Named Vance Boelter. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired June 14, 2025 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:00:41]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, and thank you so much for joining me this Saturday. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Top of the hour, we are following two major breaking news stories. One involves the shootings of two state lawmakers and their spouses in Minnesota. The other centers on growing nationwide anti-Trump protests underway in cities across the country.

Right now, a manhunt is underway near Minneapolis for a gunman who police say shot two lawmakers and their spouses early this morning. Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their home. Police say the gunman also shot Minnesota's State Senator John Hoffman and his wife multiple times at their home. They survived and are hospitalized after undergoing surgery. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is calling the attacks a politically motivated assassination.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. TIM WALZ, (D) MINNESOTA: I assure you that those held -- those responsible for this will be held accountable, and each and every one of us are committed to making sure that a tragedy like this never repeats itself in Minnesota or across this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Meantime, anti-Trump protests are taking place across the country where millions of people are expected to turn out. Nearly 2,000 so-called No Kings demonstrations are planned in all 50 states. We'll have more on those protests shortly. So let's begin with the search for the gunman behind those shootings

in Minnesota. Veronica Miracle is joining us right now. Veronica, bring us up to speed on the latest.

VERONICA MIRACLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, as you said, a massive manhunt is underway. But we have new reporting, new information about the conditions of State Senator Hoffman and his wife. According to our affiliate KARE TV, Hoffman is out of surgery, or both Senator Hoffman and his wife are out of surgery. They are both in stable condition. They are expected to survive, incredibly. Family members told by doctors that a bullet just narrowly missed Senator Hoffman's heart and that no organs were pierced in, is his wife, Yvette. They were able to also save their daughter Hope. According to a family member. Yvette, Senator Hoffman's wife threw herself on top of her daughter to save her life. Their daughter was not hit. So some really good news there as both are now out of surgery and recovering.

We also have a statement from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who is not only part of the investigation, his office is part of this investigation, he's also just heartbroken personally, as he said on X that State Representative Melissa Hortman, who passed away, as well as her husband, who were both shot and killed, he said that he is beyond heartbroken. He knew her for about two decades, so this is a personal loss for him as well as a professional one.

Now, in terms of all of the No Kings protests happening across Minnesota, all of them across the state have now been canceled. Earlier in the day, the northeast Minneapolis event was canceled out of an abundance of caution. Now all of the events across the state have been canceled as this manhunt continues. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you so much, Veronica Miracle.

John Miller, CNN's chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst is also with me now. John, what more are you learning about these hit -- the hit list that was left in that suspect's vehicle, and police have now recovered with the some 70 names, as you reported earlier on them?

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, that's a very long list. And it appears that he went to the first location and then went to the location that was probably the next closest to that one. Now there's another location in Brooklyn Park that he could have been going to next. But with the arrival of police proactively to another elected representative's residence, he was caught by surprise. They engaged in gunfire between them. He may be wounded.

But that list has other state legislators. It has a couple of mayors. It has other government officials.

[14:05:00]

It has medical clinics that apparently provide abortion services. It also has pro-choice groups on it. It has locations that are outside of the state of Minnesota. So what we're struggling with here is, what was his long gameplan. Was he literally going to go from location to location opening fire on people in the wee hours of the morning until he was caught, until he was stopped? And now that he is on the loose, but without his vehicle, without the additional weapons that were inside that vehicle, without the large amount of ammunition that was left behind in that vehicle, what he has is whatever weapons were on him, the body armor, which probably helped him escape that exchange of gunfire with police.

And the last piece of this is there are other targets on that hit list within the area. If he's on foot, if he obtained another vehicle, those people are still vulnerable, which is why the shelter-in-place is holding as they cover those locations and they do this manhunt at the same time.

WHITFIELD: And what do you expect that manhunt is looking like right now? He is presumably still on foot, or maybe he could have stolen a car, et cetera. But what are the resources, tools that investigators would use? I mean, what are the potential avenues they would take?

MILLER: Well, there's a pretty good chance that at this point, now that they've recovered the vehicle, they've gone through the papers inside, they've done the forensics, that they know who they're looking for. That means you would go to the places that this person could go, would go, whether that's a business, a home, friends, associates.

So one of the things they're likely doing is reaching out to those places and being ready. Another thing they're doing is going to be that grid search where you're using helicopters, drones, patrol units, and you're telling people, if you hear -- if you see somebody moving through the backyards, climbing over a fence, out by the garage, somebody who's staying off the main roads, report that immediately. Do not approach, do not engage. That's what we're looking at now. This is a house to house, block by block.

WHITFIELD: And then what kind -- besides the stay-in-place order that is now covering a lot of neighborhoods, what can police do, what can be done to help keep the citizens kind of at ease when a suspect impersonated police? We know that one police chief said they will be operating in pairs. If they're to knock on your door, don't answer the door to a singular person who appears to be a police officer. Call 911. But what other assurances can be given?

MILLER: Well, there's no assurances and there's no at ease. The question as posed actually doesn't have an answer that police are going to be able to provide. In fact, you know, Fred, they're looking for the opposite. They don't want people at ease and they don't want people feeling comfortable. They want people alert. They want people looking out. They want people thinking tactically. And that's what they're counting on. And they also want people staying inside.

WHITFIELD: Right, be safe. All right, John Miller, appreciate you. Thanks so much.

MILLER: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota lawmaker, who along with her husband, Mark, was killed at their home overnight, was the top Democrat in the state house. She was a legislator for about 20 years and served as the Minnesota House Speaker from 2019 to 2025. She was also a mother of two. Earlier, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz paid tribute to her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. TIM WALZ, (D) MINNESOTA: My good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa, and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed early this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination. Our state lost a great leader, and I lost a dearest of friends. Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor, and a sense of service. She was a formidable public servant, a fixture, and a giant in Minnesota. She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many. Minnesota's thoughts and prayers are with her family, her loved ones, her children, and her parents.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: We're joined now by Abou Amara. He's a longtime friend of Melissa Hortman as well and worked alongside her on several initiatives when she was a rising star in the Minnesota Democratic Party. So good to see you, Abou, and I'm so sorry, all of us are, for the loss of your dear friend. Tell me what you're thinking right now.

[14:10:04]

ABOU AMARA, FORMER ADVISER TO MINNESOTA HOUSE SPEAKER: I mean, this is just surreal. You know, two weeks ago I just texted her happy birthday. Her birthday was on May 27th, and now we are here. I just, it's surreal. I'm at a loss for words of what I'm feeling. It's one of the darkest days in Minnesota history.

WHITFIELD: And in fact, it was described like that. Not only is this a dark day for Minnesota, but also for democracy as a whole. I mean, just reading up on her and what's been published about her involvement, she really was involved in a lot, passionate about so much, including environmental issues, women's health, gun control policies. You know, did she ever in your experience talk about reasons to be fearful? I mean, she was so engaged, it seemed like she was full steam ahead. But now you've got something like this. I wonder if feeling like her life was on the line was ever something that crossed her mind.

AMARA: I will tell you, knowing her, she was always open and welcome. In fact, so many times we'd have door knocks, people getting into the community, getting active, they would start at her house. I remember being in her house. We would go out into the community and knock on doors, hand out pamphlets. And so she was always embracing people as part of democracy and not being fearful.

And then I'll tell you, as someone who has seen her in negotiating rooms at the capital, she had a backbone of steel. She was not afraid of anybody or anything. She was always interested in doing the right thing, but she was always interested in doing it the right way as well. And so she would be engaging the other side on important issues. And so I don't think fear was ever at the forefront of her mind.

WHITFIELD: It certainly looked like she was very focused on her path as a political leader from a very early start. As a graduate, in her undergraduate years at Boston University, graduating magna cum laude, and then also working for then Senators Al Gore as well as John Kerry, it seems like this path of being in politics was something she always wanted to do. Talk to me about, perhaps, your admiration for her path, being steadfast, and being an advocate for so much and for so many.

AMARA: She's just an amazing spirit, an amazing human. You know, she ran actually the first couple of times and lost. You know, many people may have been dissuaded from politics. If you run, you lose. She was committed, so she kept running. And eventually she won a seat in the Minnesota House. And from there, it was obvious that she was a rising star in the caucus and that someday she would eventually be speaker.

I just remember her ability. She was funny. She was so smart, kind, and she didn't take herself too seriously. You know, so many people get into politics to be somebody. That wasn't her. She was getting into politics to make a difference. And I think that that that her story, her trajectory, her rise to power in the Minnesota house is just evidence of her commitment to public service and making an impact.

WHITFIELD: Clearly, she made an impact in a lot of ways, not just politically. She was a wife. Now she and her husband killed in this overnight shooting, her husband, Mark, and they're parents of two children. What can you tell me about their family.

AMARA: Super close family. I know she loves dogs. She loves her dog. They were close to a golf course. They're just a really tightknit family. I again, I remember being at their house launching door-knocks and talking to Mark. And just, she loved the capital. She loved that work. But it was very clear she loved her family much, much more. She loved her daughter and son and her husband, and that was priority number one.

Again, I'm just -- this is -- when I think about them, it makes me almost break down because she's just such a decent, kind, courageous, loving person who wanted to do the best for Minnesota and for her family. And it's just an unbelievable loss for Minnesota and for the country.

WHITFIELD: What do you suppose -- as the investigation continues, we don't know the motivation of this gunman, but that there is a manifest with 70 names, you know, a hit list, if you will. What do you suppose this says about the climate that this nation is in right now? And what are your thoughts or concerns about the -- what's next? What next for this nation at this very tenuous time now with the targeted killings of a lawmaker there in Minnesota?

AMARA: Yes. So two things come to mind. First, obviously not to speculate. Let's get to the facts, understand exactly what happened and who did it, and get those things taken care of.

[14:15:03] And then, number two, I think each of us have to look inward and say, is this where we want to be as a country? What is contributing to the climate where we feel like we have to solve our differences with a bullet instead of a ballot? And I am concerned that this is just the first of many other instances that could come because of the climate that we're in. So I think it starts at the top, but all of us have a role to play in looking inward and saying, what can we do to make this climate better, and also to make sure that the next generation of young leaders want to step up and want to be a part of making change? It's disheartening. It's discouraging, but we can't give in to that. We've got to find a way forward together.

WHITFIELD: This is a loss for your friend, for the family, colleagues of her, but really, it's a loss for the whole nation that this would even happen. Abou Amara, thank you so much for being with me. Appreciate it, and reflecting on your dear friend.

AMARA: Thank you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, coming up, a disturbing manifesto discovered in the Minnesota shooting suspect's car, as we mentioned. More on that. The targets that may point to a motive. We'll have the latest in the massive manhunt as it intensifies.

And protesters gathering in cities and towns across the U.S. right now in opposition of President Trump's policies. Pictures right now, massive turnout there in Los Angeles for what is now being called No Kings protests. We'll take you there for a live report.

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[14:21:17]

WHITFIELD: All right, we're following this breaking news out of Minnesota, where a gunman -- or the search for a gunman is underway. Police say a gunman shot and killed two Democratic Minnesota state representatives. Melissa Hortman and her husband early this morning, they say the same suspect also shot Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife multiple times. Both of them underwent surgery and are still being hospitalized.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says the overnight shootings were politically motivated, and we're also learning that law enforcement found a hit list in the suspect's car which contained nearly 70 names, including abortion providers, lawmakers in Minnesota and in other states.

We're also following another major story. Protesters who are against Trump's policies are gathering across the U.S. in what is being called No Kings Day demonstrations. They're happening just hours ahead of the president's big military parade for the Army's 250th birthday.

We have team coverage for us right now. You'll see in this quad box screen here CNN's Michael Yoshida in Los Angeles, Leigh Waldman joining us from Philadelphia, as well as Brian Todd in Washington, D.C. Let's begin in Los Angeles with a quite sizable crowd there and

Michael Yoshida. Michael, what's happening?

MICHAEL YOSHIDA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fred, you can see the march has started here in downtown Los Angeles. Thousands filling the street. You can see they have taken the streets. We have a sea of signs, of chants, people showing up today. Again, this is the No Kings protest that follows a week of marches and rallies here in downtown Los Angeles. And as we walk through the crowd, we just have a variety of different organizations, people showing up.

And I want to show you this. As we talk about this No Kings protest, you can see we have a giant Constitution that is being carried through the streets of downtown L.A., just floats of all kinds, people of all kinds. And when we talk about this making its way through here, with Harry. Harry -- Bill.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Carrie (ph)

YOSHIDA: Carrie (ph). Why are you out here today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really just mourning the loss of empathy in this country. And I think just what we're doing with trying to take children from mothers and break families up is just disgusting. And I felt like I wanted to have my voice heard out here.

YOSHIDA: And what is this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So this gentleman here from We the People organized the carrying of this giant Constitution. There are thousands of signatures on there. And we're just here to protest and say, let's get back to honoring our Constitution in this country.

YOSHIDA: Thank you so much.

So again, thousands taking to the streets right now. We have a giant Constitution. We have giant floats and balloons all around us. This started about an hour ago right by city hall. Again, we're in downtown L.A. at this point. We had a chance to hear from immigrants, children of immigrants, others out here just in solidarity, showing their support for those who want to make sure their voices are heard, make sure their voices are heard peacefully. That has been the message from those taking part, from the leaders here in L.A. L.A. mayor Karen bass telling people to show up, but again, do so peacefully.

As you can see, very peaceful right now, very energetic, but again, going so peacefully. This is going to wrap up back at city hall where we're expecting more speakers. Obviously, this is just one of thousands of events happening across the country. Fred?

[14:25:02]

WHITFIELD: All right, boisterous but peaceful. Michael Yoshida in Los Angeles, thank you so much.

Let's go to Philadelphia now, where we find Leigh Waldman, where the crowd is quite sizable there, too. Tell us what's happening.

LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, you mentioned it, quite sizable crowd here. Take a look at how many people are outside of the Museum of Art here in Philadelphia. We talked to organizers of this protest here. They suspect over 100,000 people are here braving these rainy conditions. Michael Yoshida talking about the peaceful protest there in L.A. It's the same thing here, lots of peace. People saying that they're showing up here to show Washington, D.C., today that this is what democracy looks like. They keep underscoring that.

And it's because here in Philadelphia, this is where the Constitution was signed. They said this is the birthplace of democracy, and their goal is to get it back to that. And you can see people here, they're not being deterred from the rain that's been coming down all day. They marched over a mile to get to where we are today. And one of the very first speakers that they heard from was Representative Jamie Raskin. He talked about how important it is to be here and give the voice back to the people. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JAMIE RASKIN, (D-MD): People don't want to live in a society where the president is calling out the Army and the National Guard against our own people. That's totally antithetical to what America means. We were conceived as a democracy that rebelled against kings. We don't need kings and queens and dictators.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALDMAN: We also hear from people today who say that they are the sons and daughters of immigrants, and that is what's bringing them out here. That is the champion cause of so many people here in Philadelphia, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Leigh, appreciate it.

All right, now to the nation's capital, where the celebrations will be underway soon for the 250th birthday for the U.S. Army. But right now, there are also some demonstrations of another sort. That's where we find our Brian Todd walking with people. What's happening?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, we believe this really could be the main event in Washington, D.C., staging itself as a protest against President Trump's event, against that military parade, which is going to be taking place a couple of hours from now about a mile away from here. This group is RefuseFascism.Org. They're the ones who organized this. They have just started marching from Logan Circle in Washington. They are headed over to Lafayette Square Park, right across from the White House. They've stopped for a moment here, but they're going around this circle and then heading down to the White House that way.

Lots of creative signs, effigies, and other things. This gentleman here on a tall bike, he calls it a hex cycle. That's pretty creative. But we also want to talk to a veteran, because this is clearly, like, obviously illustrating the unique perspective of a military parade and a large scale one. This is Ralph. He only wants to go by his first name. He's a longtime Navy medic who is now retired. Ralph, give me your direct, overriding take, if you could, your impressions of President Trump's event and this military parade being staged here.

RALPH, NAVY VETERAN MARCHING WITH PROTESTORS: Thank you, Brian. First of all, I mean, I am a 20-year veteran. And what's happening to our veterans is just, it's sad. I watched what happened when they wanted to stand on the steps last night, and all they did was knock a barricade down. That's all they did, just to protest on the steps.

And they wanted to make a big deal out of it and arrest them and put them in busses. But yet the MAGA can tear one of our government buildings apart, and President Trump let's him out of jail.

TODD: But let's talk about the event here today. What's your impression as a military man, a 20-year Navy medic of what -- I mean, this staging of military hardware, tanks, howitzers rolling down the, rolling down Constitution Avenue. What do you think of it?

RALPH: The parade don't belong here. That is -- when you bring a parade. You see that in dictatorships. OK? You see that in North Korea. You see that in China. You see that in Russia. This is we the people in the United States of America. We don't need to have our military paraded on the streets, because our people, they know our military is out there.

But you know what? We're not here for a parade. We're here to protect this country. And that is our oath to protect this world from both foreign and domestic enemies. And if we're in the streets of Washington, D.C. while they're bombing in Israel and Iran, it's just not right. It's not right to our troops, period.

TODD: All right, Ralph, thank you very much for talking to us. We really appreciate it. There's the perspective of a veteran.

[14:30:00]

There are also veterans at the front of this march. They purposely had a group of veterans leading this march at the front. And again, we're heading down toward the White House. We talked to organizers of this march and series of rallies here. They are coordinating very closely with the U.S. Park Police and with the D.C. Metropolitan Police to try to deescalate anything that might happen, try to avoid any violence. They are in very close coordination. There is a police presence around this march, but it has been fairly subtle so far, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, I'm glad you brought that up, Brian, because we all heard the president who said any protests would be met with force. He didn't make a distinction about whether people were violent or whether they were carrying out peaceful protests. And when you talk about a coordination with Park Police and other entities, are the demonstrators there saying anything to you about their concerns about being arrested or being met with force just simply by gathering and walking and appearing?

TODD: You know, they don't seem to be very worried about that. They are very confident that this is going to stay nonviolent. And as they said, they've been in close coordination with the metropolitan police. They've had meetings, they've got permits for this. They've got permits for the Logan Circle event, they've got permits for Lafayette Square, and this is all coordinated.

And they also realize, Fredricka, in this city, it's uniquely able to handle an event like this. The police are used to this kind of thing. So you get the impression that the protesters here understand that they are not really worried about being met with, quote, heavy force, as the president said. But of course, if this gets out of hand, that dynamic could very well change.

WHITFIELD: This is a city accustomed to demonstrations on a variety of scales. Brian Todd, thank you so much, in the nation's capital. Leigh Waldman in Philadelphia, Michael Yoshida in Los Angeles. Thanks to all of you.

All right, still to come, Iran's state media says a new round of Israeli strikes is now targeting Iranian provinces. A live report from the region straight ahead.

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[14:36:7]

WHITFIELD: All right, we continue to follow the breaking news out of Minnesota, where a manhunt is still underway. Police say a suspect shot and killed top Democratic Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband early this morning at their home. Officials say the same suspect also shot Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife multiple times. Both underwent surgery and are receiving medical care.

Senator John Hoffman's family told our CNN affiliate KARE The gunman's bullet nearly missed Senator Hoffman's heart. We'll bring you more details on this developing story as we get it this hour.

We're also continuing to follow breaking news in the Middle East. A new round of Israeli strikes is targeting Iranian provinces. That's according to Iran's state media. And a short time ago, an Israeli military official declared that they had established aerial freedom over Tehran's airspace. Israel says it attacked 150 targets overnight as it targeted Iran's nuclear program. At least 78 people were killed in Iran, while three people were killed when Iran fired missiles into Israel.

CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward is in Tel Aviv for us. Clarissa, tell us about the destruction that you saw earlier today.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka, no sign that either side is pulling back from the brink at all. There had been some minimal hope that potentially Iran would agree to join those talks in Oman with the U.S. about its nuclear program. Now it has been officially announced that they will not be participating tomorrow. And so the expectation is that we could be in for another night of

attacks and counterattacks. We visited the site where one Iranian missile successfully penetrated and made landfall in central Israel, not too far from Tel Aviv. And really, the damage was pretty extraordinary. Several houses essentially just gone, basically, twisted metal and rubble and cars pancaked, thrown further down the street half a block, pretty much decimated.

And what's interesting to see, Fredricka, is that for people who live under Israeli bombardment or who have experienced Israeli bombardment, whether that be in Gaza, whether that be in Syria, whether that be in Lebanon, those kinds of sights are very familiar. But for people in Israel, they have not seen before that kind of devastation from that level of weaponry. So you did see a lot of people gathering at the police cordon, sort of craning their necks to try to get a better look at what was going on. You saw a lot of journalists on the scene as well.

We also saw municipal workers from another town who were visiting and touring the site to get a better idea of how Israeli authorities had handled the situation. We know in that one specific spot, two people were killed, a man and a woman. The Israeli police had also released an image of a baby being rescued from the rubble of that site earlier on.

But more broadly, I would say, there is an absolute anxiety, not just here but across the entire region, that this is going to continue to escalate, that we could be in for many more nights like the ones we have seen over the course of the last two evenings.

[14:40:00]

And a lot of people fearful about what that will bring. Again, a total of three people killed here in Israel. Obviously, many more people killed in Tehran according to Iranian state media. In one strike alone, 60 people were killed in a building, 20 of them children. Of course, we don't have anyone on the ground in Tehran to confirm that. But all of this feeding fears of a rapidly escalating conflict, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Clarissa Ward in Tel Aviv, thanks so much.

All right, and more breaking news just in to CNN. Officials have now identified the suspect in the shooting of the two Democratic lawmakers and their spouses in Minnesota. We've got all of that straight ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:45:25]

WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. We continue to follow breaking news. We now know the name of the suspect wanted in connection with a pair of shootings involving Minnesota state lawmakers and their family members. Sources tell CNN they are now searching for this man, who is identified as 57-year-old Vance Boelter. A law enforcement official says he works for a security company.

CNN's John Miller joining us now. What more are you learning about the person revealed as a suspect now?

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, a picture is emerging. It's Dr. Vance Luther Boelter, 57 years old. He has his doctorate from a University in Minnesota, an M.S. in management, a doctorate in leadership. He owns a security company where he is the registered party with the state of Minnesota. It's an armed security company. He is the director of patrols, according to their website.

Ironically, what they say is we are here to provide security right to your doorstep and property to keep what you own safe and secure. Ironic in that he invaded, allegedly, people's properties today, bent, according to law enforcement, on taking the lives of elected officials.

He also has a presence in his social media talking about his public speaking. He preaches at various churches. He gives speeches on leadership at various venues. He claims to have worked overseas in security in places from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Gaza, to other places in the Middle East. And according to his LinkedIn profile, he's looking for work back in the food industry.

So the picture that is emerging tells us one thing, which if, in fact, he owns a security company, that could explain the vehicle that looked like a police car, the body armor, and the weapons in that it's an armed security company and probably how he was able to get dressed up looking like a tactical officer and trick these people, allegedly, into letting him enter their homes before he opened fire.

WHITFIELD: Its incredible. So besides now seeing, or hearing a name and seeing the face, does this help police, law enforcement in their efforts to try to corner this person? You know, it allows people in the area to recognize his face, perhaps, you know, know something about, reveal, call authorities. I mean, how might this advance things?

MILLER: Well, police have been aware of him as the suspect for a number of hours now. His name was first reported by the Associated Press. But now that it's out there, and now with a picture out there, that brings a lot more eyes into the game in terms of if he found transportation, if he's gotten far from the area where the shelter-in- place, where the lockdown is, somebody may be able to spot him, identify him, call law enforcement. It's a development that will probably affect them in a positive way.

WHITFIELD: Yes. All right, John Miller, we'll leave it there for now. We'll talk again with you on this. Thank you so much.

We'll be right back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:53:25] WHITFIELD: We're also following another major story, the huge U.S. military parade that will get underway in the nation's capital in just a few hours. President Trump is commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, which also happens to fall on his 79th birthday. The Army festival is happening right now. The family-friendly event featuring military vehicles, aircraft. It's a sharp contrast to the so-called No Kings protests spreading across the country.

CNN's Brian Todd is in Washington, D.C. Brian, what is the situation right now?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, were at a transitional moment in this series of rallies and marches here in Washington, D.C. We've just arrived at Lafayette Square Park. I'm going to show you the optics of that in just a moment. But I do want to talk about the police presence here, because that's been talked about a lot, of course, in light of what's happened in Los Angeles with the clashes between protesters and police there in Chicago, New York, and elsewhere.

The police presence here in Washington has been very visible, but also very subtle at the same time. This group of bicycle policemen was lined across the street here on I Street just a moment ago. Then they just kind of faded off to the side. That's been kind of the theme throughout here. The police have been around to show the protesters that they're here, also to show this group that organized this protest that they are here to mitigate if anyone tries to violently disrupt their permitted protest and rally here.

Now, here's what were up against here at Lafayette Square Park. One of the main features of the huge security apparatus here in Washington for this event, this military parade and President Trump's event, anti-scale fencing. It's about eight feet high.

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Well, these protesters have just kind of come up against this in their effort to get into Lafayette Square Park. We'll walk over here. They hit a bit of a bottleneck as they tried to get into the park just now. But as you can see, they've made their way into the park. They are permitted to be here, so they're going to hold a rally here with some more speeches. They just came from Logan Circle, and now they're here in Lafayette Square Park. This really could be the main event regarding protests here against President Trump's march.

These protesters have told us they are committed to not having any violence break out in this event, and they're coordinating very closely with the police, but they are here to show their stern opposition to President Trump and this military march.

WHITFIELD: OK, and just to underscore then, Brian, you said they are permitted to be there in Lafayette Park. They are not necessarily trespassing, though the barricades are up. Got it.

All right, we'll continue to watch as you do. Brian Todd, thanks so much, in the nation's capital. All right, thank you so much for joining me today. I'm Fredricka

Whitfield. More CNN newsroom straight ahead with Jessica Dean right after this.

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