Minnesota Shooting Suspect Targeted Multiple Lawmakers, Prosecutors Outline As More Charges Filed
The man suspected of killing Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman (D), a former state House Speaker, and her husband, Mark, early Saturday morning was arrested late Sunday and charged with murder after a nearly two-day manhunt.
More details are emerging about the attack allegedly led by 57-year-old Vance Boelter, who is also accused of shooting State Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife. Officials have charged Boelter with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder — some of which carry life sentences.
INSIDE THE ISRAELI OPERATION
Israel said Mossad, its national intelligence agency, spent years preparing for Friday’s attack, which involved smuggling missiles and building a drone base deep inside Iran to prepare for the operation dubbed “Rising Lion.”
Agents reportedly began infiltrating the heart of Iran several months ago, leading to a multi-pronged operation that included strike systems hidden in vehicles that destroyed Iranian air defense systems, and explosive-laden drones pre-positioned deep inside Iran that destroyed its surface-to-surface missiles.
The covert operation weakened Iran’s air defenses and appeared to allow Israel to strike targets without opposition.
INSIDE THE ATTACKS
Boelter arrived at the lawmakers' homes in a black SUV outfitted with emergency lights and a license plate that read “POLICE.” He wore body armor, a black tactical vest, and a hyper-realistic silicone mask, while carrying a 9 mm handgun and flashlight. Authorities say Boelter allegedly “stalked his victims like prey” before making his moves.
His first stop was State Sen. John Hoffman’s (D) house around 2 a.m. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot after Boelter pretended to be a police officer – shining a flashlight in their faces and saying there was a shooting reported in the house – then claimed to be a burglar after they doubted his legitimacy. Both are alive and remain hospitalized.
Their daughter Hope, whom Yvette shielded during the attack, called 911 and alerted police after the incident. Authorities credit her quick action with saving countless lives, as Boelter had a “hit list” of 45 Democratic politicians in his car, along with papers referencing the anti-Trump “No Kings” protests being held later that day.
Next, Boelter is accused of targeting at least two other state politicians at their homes, federal officials said Monday.
One was away on vacation. At a second location, a police officer encountered Boelter in his car, but believed he was law enforcement, as Hope’s 911 call alerted police to check on nearby politicians’ homes.
The suspect ignored the officer when he was approached, and then fled the scene.
His final stop was at State Rep. Melissa Hortman’s (D) house, where Boelter is accused of fatally shooting her and her husband, Mark. Police confronted him at the Hortman’s home, but he fled the scene.
In the nearly two days that followed, the state’s largest manhunt ever zeroed in on Boelter — with help from a resident who spotted him on a trail camera in a wooded area near his home outside Green Isle, MN. Officers tracked him using drones and police dogs. Officials said Boelter was armed at the time but was taken into custody without incident.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HIM
Friends described Boelter as religious, a Trump voter, and someone who passionately opposed abortion. “He’s not a Democrat. He would be offended if people called him a Democrat,” David Carlson, his friend and roommate, said. Boelter texted both Carlson and his family after the crime, texting his wife, “Dad went to war last night.”
FBI agents found two handguns, $10,000 in cash, and passports for the suspect’s wife and children in Boelter’s wife’s car after the shootings.
Boelter was recently working for a funeral home to make ends meet, while aspiring to start a security company. He previously worked in the food industry and traveled to Africa for an agricultural project.
He had served on the same state economic board as State Sen. Hoffman. He was appointed to the 41-member Workforce Development Board in 2016 by then-Gov. Mark Dayton and reappointed by Gov. Tim Walz, both Democrats.
On his motivation: Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson on Monday said, “His primary motive was to go out and murder people. They were all elected officials. They were all Democrats. Beyond that, I think it’s just way too speculative for anyone that’s reviewed these materials to know and to say what was motivating him in terms of ideology or specific issues.”
POLITICAL VIOLENCE
The shootings come amid an uptick of political violence, from the attempted assassination of Trump in PA this past July, to the 2022 attack on Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) husband, and the recent arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s (D) home in April.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of Americans agree that "patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country," a 2023 survey by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the Brookings Institution found. That was up from 15% in 2021.
Walz condemned the violence and urged a national reckoning: “This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences.” On Sunday, Trump said "such horrific violence will not be tolerated," but also took a jab at Walz, calling him a "grossly incompetent person."
