Severe storms are rolling through central Minnesota including the Twin Cities

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Federal authorities on Monday unveiled murder and stalking charges against Vance Boelter, saying he also went to the homes of two other state lawmakers early Saturday morning between shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and killing DFL House leader Melissa Hortman. 

The indictment lays out chilling details of the attacks against Hoffman, Hortman and their spouses — and the circumstances that kept the other two lawmakers safe. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said Boelter had been planning detailed attacks on politicians for “some time” and went to the homes of the four Minnesota DFL politicians early Saturday with the "intent to kill them.”

He said more than 45 names of Minnesota state and federal politicians were on his target list, all Democrats. “It’s no exaggeration to say this is the stuff of nightmares.” 

Boelter appeared in federal court Monday afternoon, wearing an orange jail-issued shirt and pants. Clean shaven and subdued, Boelter stared straight ahead and answered questions from the magistrate judge with either “yes” or “yes sir.”

Federal public defender Matthew Deates appeared with Boelter, who indicated he could not afford a private attorney. Deates said he would ask to be appointed to represent Boelter.  The next hearing is set for June 27 at 11 a.m.

Boelter was in the custody of U.S. marshals on Monday morning after spending Sunday night in the Hennepin County Jail.

Boelter allegedly began the violent spree early Saturday at Hoffman’s home in Champlin. 

Thompson said Boelter was dressed like a police officer and wearing a “hyper-realistic” silicone mask when he pounded on Hoffman’s door shouting “police.” When Hoffman answered, Boelter shined the light in his face and allegedly said he was responding to reports of a shooting in the house.

When Boelter lowered the light, Hoffman realized he wasn’t an officer, Thompson said. Boelter then allegedly shouted, “This is a robbery” and forced his way into the home. When Hoffman tried to push him out, Boelter shot Hoffman and his wife repeatedly.

Thompson said Boelter then drove to Maple Grove and the house of a Minnesota House member. He rang the bell there, again wearing the silicone mask, but no one was home. The state representative and their family were on vacation. Thompson didn’t name the representative.

He drove next toward the home of a state senator in New Hope. At that point, Thompson said New Hope authorities were aware of the Hoffman shooting and sent an officer to the senator’s house at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

A New Hope officer saw Boelter’s SUV down the block, assumed it was another officer dispatched to check in and pulled up and rolled down the window to speak. 

Thompson said Boelter did not respond to the real officer, “just sat and stared straight ahead.” The officer then went to the senator’s home and waited for others to arrive. Thompson said by then, Boelter had gone.

Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, later confirmed it was her home. 

Thompson said Boelter moved on to Hortman’s home in Brooklyn Park, where at about 3 a.m.  he parked in the driveway with emergency lights flashing on his SUV and wearing the silicone mask.

Before Boelter allegedly entered the home, Brooklyn Park police pulled up, alerted earlier about the Hoffman shooting and asked to make a welfare check. 

Thompson said two officers arrived, saw Boelter standing near the front door.  Boelter opened fire on them before shooting his way into the Hortmans’ house where he allegedly killed Hortman and her husband before escaping out the back.

The federal complaint also notes that “officers also found inside the home the Hortman family dog, gravely injured.” Helping Paws, a nonprofit where Hortman volunteered, confirmed the dog, Gilbert, did not survive the attack.

 late Sunday after a two-day manhunt. He faces state charges of second-degree murder in the deaths of Hortman and her husband Mark, and second-degree attempted murder charges in the shootings of Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said it will seek first-degree murder charges for Boelter, which will require a grand jury proceeding.

Suspect had more guns, list of public officials in vehicle

Court documents detailing the Hennepin County charges

 against Boelter say a vehicle registered to him that was found outside the Hortmans’ home contained “at least three AK-47 assault rifles and a 9 mm handgun, as well as a list of names and addresses of other public officials.”

Hennepin County charging document against Boelter

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension superintendent Drew Evans said that had Brooklyn Park police officers not confronted Boelter at the Hortmans’ home early Saturday morning, he likely would have “continued throughout the day … He was forced to abandon his plan,” adding that Boelter’s list of possible targets also included people in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan.

Officers also found “a ballistic vest, a disassembled 9 mm firearm, a mask, and a gold police-style badge” in the area. Court documents said Boelter was listed as the purchaser for at least four of the recovered firearms. 

Boelter had been the subject of an extensive, multiday manhunt after the shootings.

Boelter was found in a field late Sunday near Green Isle, southwest of the Twin Cities, about 6 miles from his family’s home.

Searching near Boelter’s Sibley County property, an officer thought they saw him rush into the woods. Bruley said authorities hurried to set up a perimeter and with the help of technology and a State Patrol helicopter, they were able to call him out of the woods and into a field.

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher posted a photo of Boelter on social media after the arrest.

Fletcher wrote that Boelter was arrested “after relentless and determined police work.”

“Thanks to the dedication of multiple agencies working together along with support from the community, justice is one step closer.”

Gov. Tim Walz praised law enforcement for capturing Boelter. He mourned Hortman, saying, “One man’s unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota.” He vowed to “put every ounce of energy the state of Minnesota has to make sure the justice is served.”

Watch: Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty updates Boelter case:

Watch: Authorities detail federal charges against Vance Boelter:

This is a developing story; check back for updates.

MPR News Staff

Author

Vance Boelter had been planning attacks for “some time” and went to the homes of four DFL politicians Saturday intending to kill them, the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota said Monday. “It’s no exaggeration to say this is the stuff of nightmares.”

Erica Zurek | MPR News

Courtesy of the Hennepin County Jail 

Courtesy of Helping Paws

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher

Vance Boelter charged with murder after capture in Minnesota manhunt

The rise of political violence in the U.S. 

'This cannot be the norm': Minnesotans struggle with surge in political violence

Feds charge Boelter with murder, say he targeted 2 other DFL lawmakers Saturday

Friends say Minnesota shooting suspect was deeply religious and conservative

Crime, Law and Justice

Vance Boelter went to the homes of four Minnesota DFL politicians Saturday with the "intent to kill them," the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota said Monday after federal authorities filed murder, shooting and stalking charges.

Feds charge Boelter with murder, say he targeted 2 other DFL lawmakers Saturday

Go Deeper.

Like this?

Quick Read