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What we know about the Minnesota lawmakers shooting suspect
What we know about the Minnesota lawmakers shooting suspect
What we know about the Minnesota lawmakers shooting suspect

Published on: 06/16/2025

Description

MINNESOTA (TNND) — The man suspected of killing a Minnesota Democratic lawmaker and wounding another was taken into custody on Sunday night when he surrendered to police in Green Isle after two days on the run.

Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is accused of impersonating a police officer and gunning down former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot but survived.

He was charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder, according to online records.

“One man’s unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota,” Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said during a news conference.

Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley called in the "largest manhunt in the state's history."

Here is what we know so far:

The attacks

The Hoffmans were attacked in the early morning hours on Saturday at their home in Champin. A criminal complaint detailed how their adult daughter called 911 just after 2 a.m. to say a masked person had come to the door and shot her parents.

Boelter was dressed like a uniformed officer and operating a vehicle resembling a police SUV, equipped with emergency lights, according to officials.

When Brooklyn Park police learned a lawmaker had been shot, patrol officers were sent out to check on the Hortmans' home nearby and arrived in time to see Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through an open front door. Gunfire was exchanged with Boelter before he fled inside and escaped the scene.

The complaint states that Melissa Hortman was found dead inside.

Law enforcement officials anonymously told The Associated Press they recovered several AK-style firearms from the suspect’s vehicle at the crime scene, and a list of about 70 names. The writings and list of names included prominent state and federal lawmakers and community leaders, along with abortion rights advocates and information about health care facilities.

Fliers for a local anti-Trump "No Kings" rally were also found.

Background on Boelter

Boelter is reportedly the CEO of Red Lion Group and Praetorian Guard Security Services.

State records also show that he is a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, though it is not clear if or how well they knew each other.

New York Post documents obtained confirm Boelter was twice appointed to jobs by Democratic governors, serving on the Workforce Development Council in 2016 under then-Gov. Mark Dayton, and appointed by Walz in 2019 to serve a four-year stint on the Workforce Development Board.

David Carlson, best friend and roommate of Boelter, revealed that Boelter texted around 6 a.m. on Saturday, saying that he would soon be dead and that he loved them, local outlet KARE reported.

"David and Ron, I love you guys. I made some choices, and you guys don’t know anything about this, but I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn’t gone this way,” Carlson read from his phone in a video.

“I don’t want to say anything more and implicate you in any way because you guys don’t know anything about this. But I love you guys and I’m sorry for all the trouble this has caused,” the message read.

Carlson called authorities after reading that message, fearing that Boelter may have hurt himself, reports reveal.

The 59-year-old expressed shock that his friend, whom he has known since fourth grade, could be involved in such a horrific incident.

“He wasn’t a hateful person,” Carlson said. “But he needed help.”

Friends and former colleagues interviewed by AP described Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church and went to campaign rallies for President Donald Trump. Records show Boelter registered to vote as a Republican while living in Oklahoma in 2004 before moving to Minnesota, where voters don’t list party affiliation.

In sermons reviewed by the AP, Boelter spoke about his beliefs on abortion during a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023.

“The churches are so messed up, they don’t know abortion is wrong in many churches,” he said.

He appears to have hidden his more strident beliefs from his friends back home.

“He never talked to me about abortion,” said Paul Schroeder, who has known Boelter for years. “It seemed to be just that he was a conservative Republican who naturally followed Trump.”

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said at a briefing on Sunday that Boelter is not believed to have made any public threats before the attacks.

Evans asked the public not to speculate on a motivation for the attacks. “We often want easy answers for complex problems,” he told reporters. “Those answers will come as we complete the full picture of our investigation.”

______

Editor's note: The Associated Press and Anissa Reyes contributed to this article.

News Source : https://wfxl.com/news/nation-world/what-we-know-about-the-minnesota-democratic-lawmakers-shooting-suspect-vance-luther-boelter-green-isle-house-speaker-melissa-hortman-senator-john-hoffman-murder-attempted-governor-tim-walz-abortion-rights

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