Green Island, Minnesota. In a string of targeted attacks that authorities characterized as politically motivated, a Minnesota man has been accused with stalking and killing Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as stalking and shooting State Senator John Hoffman and his spouse.
Green Isle, Minnesota resident Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is charged with several federal offenses, including stalking and murder. Before beginning the attacks early on June 14, Boelter pretended to be a law enforcement officer, wore body armor, and armed himself with firearms, according to court documents.
Boelter initially knocked on Senator Hoffman’s door several times while posing as a police officer. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, saw that Boelter had a face mask on when they opened the door. Boelter fired, hitting both victims as they attempted to close the door.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that response to these heinous acts of violence will not be ignored. The entire force of the law will be applied in the Department of Justice’s prosecution of this individual.
House Speaker and husband killed in second attack
After the shooting at the Hoffman residence, Boelter went to Representative Hortman’s house. Boelter was already at the Hortman residence when law officers arrived to perform a welfare check in response to the initial incident.
Outside stood Boelter’s black Ford Explorer SUV, which was equipped with police-style lights. Officers saw Boelter shoot Mark Hortman several times inside the house. Representative Hortman was subsequently killed when Boelter hurried inside and fired more shots. Officers tried to help, but both victims passed away from their wounds.
According to FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr., this was a horrifying act of targeted violence. A shooter posing as a police officer purposefully enticed employees to their home and then started shooting.
Investigators found five firearms, a sizable quantity of ammo, and handwritten notebooks containing the home addresses of dozens of Minnesota state and federal officials inside Boelter’s car.
An arrest results from a two-day manhunt.
After that, Boelter tried to reach two more Minnesota authorities but was unsuccessful. Federal, state, and local law enforcement organizations were involved in the ensuing manhunt. On the evening of June 15, authorities found Boelter in a field about a mile from his family’s home in Green Isle.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson for the District of Minnesota stated that Vance Luther Boelter went on a violent spree against our elected officials. There have never been targeted political assassinations like these in Minnesota.
Today, Boelter will appear in U.S. District Court for the first time before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty.
ongoing inquiry that has been organized by several institutions
Investigations are still ongoing by the FBI, ATF, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and several local police agencies. Additional information about Boelter’s motivation and if other possible targets are still in danger has not been made public by officials.
According to ATF St. Paul Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle, the intentional targeting of public leaders and their families is a heinous act of political violence that has no place in our nation.
