Vance Boelter, the 57-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband, as well as the wounding of another lawmaker and his wife, is facing charges of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder in connection with the attack. Boelter was taken into custody Sunday night near his Sibley County home following a search that spanned more than 36 hours.
According to a criminal complaint that was formally filed in Hennepin County Court, Boelter is facing six federal charges, including stalking and unlawful killing. The FBI held a press conference on Monday morning to provide additional details stemming from their ongoing investigation, who stated that Boelter also went to the homes of several other elected officials on the night he opened fire on Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and injured Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in separate attacks.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Joseph H. Thompson said that Boelter “stalked his victims like prey” and “shot them in cold blood … His crimes are the stuff of nightmares,” as he outlined the “chilling details” of his crime. Thompson said that after the incident at the Hoffmans’ home, Boelter went to a state representative’s residence in Maple Grove — but that person was away on vacation at the time. He then allegedly went to the home of a state senator in New Hope. After learning about the attack in Champlin, a New Hope police officer went to check on the senator’s residence. The officer noticed a marked squad car — later identified as Boelter’s — parked outside. When the officer tried to speak to Boelter, there was no response, and by the time additional officers arrived, Boelter was gone (the names of the two lawmakers whose homes were allegedly targeted have not been made public by the FBI.) Thompson said Boelter then proceeded to the Hortmans’ home in Brooklyn Park. When officers arrived, they saw Boelter near the entrance. He opened fire on the officers before forcing his way into the home and turning his gun on the Hortmans.
Drew Evans, superintendent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, explained that if investigators discover additional suspects or individuals who may have assisted Boelter, further charges may be forthcoming. Federal investigators say Boelter carefully researched his targets and kept them under surveillance “for an extensive period of time,” with Thompson saying during the press conference that “this was a political assassination.” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said that her office intends to pursue justice for the victims. The sentence for first-degree murder, if convicted, is life imprisonment without parole: “I want to assure our community and all those who are grieving that we will seek justice and accountability for the victims of these heinous crimes.. It is a frightening time we are living in. Political violence is prevalent. And the way we talk to and about each other has raised the temperature to unfathomable levels. We cannot continue on this way. In times of tragedy and also every day, as we navigate our daily lives, we need to find ways to support one another.”
Police initially responded to a 911 call at a home in Champlin, Minnesota, at about 2:05 a.m. on Saturday. The caller reported a masked intruder (later identified by officials as Boelter) who opened fire after gaining entry. Officers found state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, injured by multiple gunshot wounds. Yvette Hoffman later explained that her husband was shot nine times and she was injured by eight bullets. Security camera footage from the Hoffmans’ home shows a Ford SUV with police-style lighting in the driveway. Boelter, wearing a mask, blue shirt, and a police-style tactical vest, forced his way into their home after identifying himself as a police officer. When the Brooklyn Park Police Department learned about the attack in Champlin, officers rushed to the home of another state representative — later identified as Melissa Hortman — as a precaution. When officers arrived at the Hortmans’ home at roughly 3:35 a.m., Boelter opened fire through a doorway, killing both Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman. Officers exchanged gunfire with Boelter, but he was able to escape.
A subsequent search of Boelter’s vehicle turned up at least three AK-47 assault rifles, a 9mm handgun, and a list of names and addresses of additional elected officials. Police also recovered a ballistic vest, a disassembled 9mm handgun, a mask, and a gold-colored police-style badge. Boelter was the documented purchaser of at least four of the recovered guns, per the criminal complaint.
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