The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota is bringing federal charges against Vance Luther Boelter, the man who was arrested following the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman.
In the early morning hours of Saturday, June 14, Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their home by an assassin. Hortman was the leader of the DFL Party in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Just before that attack, Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, and his wife, Yvette, were shot multiple times in their Champlin home. Both Hoffman and his wife have received surgery and are expected to recover.
After those shootings, a nationwide manhunt ensued to find the perpetrator. On Sunday evening, authorities arrested Boelter in Green Isle, Minn. Boelter was booked in Hennepin County jail early this morning and faces multiple murder charges in Minnesota state court.
Since then, Boelter has been transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and was scheduled appear in federal court this afternoon.
At a press conference, Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson unveiled the six charges that his office is bringing against the alleged assassin.
The federal charges Boelter will face are for the stalking of Melissa Hortman, stalking of John Hoffman, murder of Melissa Hortman, murder of Mark Hortman, shooting of the Hortmans, and shooting of the Hoffmans.
Several of these charges have penalties which include life imprisonment without the possibility for parole. Both murder charges have penalties which include the death penalty, but Thompson said it was too early to determine whether the death penalty will be sought.
Acting U.S. Attorney says Boelter went to four lawmaker homes that night
At Monday’s press conference, Thompson told the press that Boelter was impersonating a law enforcement officer the night he killed the Hortmans and shot the Hoffmans. His outfit reportedly included tactical gear, a 9mm handgun, body armor, and a silicon mask. The 57-year-old suspect also allegedly used a vehicle that was modified to look like a police SUV.
According to Thompson, Boelter went to the Hoffmans’ Champlin home in the early hours of Saturday morning and shot John and Yvette Hoffman after knocking on their door, telling them he was the police, and shining a flashlight in their face. The Hoffmans’ daughter, who was also at the home, called 911.
The acting U.S. attorney said Boelter then left the Champlin scene and traveled to another lawmaker’s home in Maple Grove, but that lawmaker was on vacation with family and not at home at the time.
Boelter reportedly proceeded to the home of a third Minnesota lawmaker in New Hope. At that location, Thompson said Boelter parked on a nearby street before a New Hope police officer rolled up next to him. That officer had been sent to do a wellness check on the New Hope lawmaker after hearing about the shooting in Champlin.
According to Thompson, that officer believed Boelter was a police officer sent to check on the New Hope lawmaker. The police officer reportedly talked to Boelter, but Boelter did not respond. Thompson said the New Hope officer then proceeded to the lawmaker’s home and waited for backup, but Boelter allegedly left the area before more police appeared.
At roughly 3:30 a.m., police officers arrived at the Hortman residence in Brooklyn Park after hearing about the shooting in Champlin. Thompson said those officers saw Boelter’s SUV parked in the driveway and observed Boelter standing at the Hortmans’ front door.
According to Thompson, Boelter saw the police officers, drew his weapon, shot at those officers, rushed into the Hortman house, and murdered Melissa and Mark Hortman. The Brooklyn Park police officers reportedly fired at Boelter as he entered the home, but the suspect went into the home and escaped out the back.
Law enforcement officials have stated that the exchange in front of the Hortman’s house happened incredibly quickly and the scene is still being reconstructed.
According to authorities, law enforcement recovered at “hit list” from Boelter’s car which included many Democratic elected officials and abortion providers. Thompson said Boelter had been planning the attacks for “an extensive period of time” and possessed documents with list of names and addresses.
Responding to reports of a “manifesto” written by Boelter, Thompson said he had not seen anything like “a Unibomber-style manifesto” in Boelter’s writings.
Authorities noted that the investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement will be working to determine whether anyone helped or assisted the suspect in any way.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
