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Minnesota shooting suspect had dozens of potential targets, prosecutors say

Minnesota shooting suspect had dozens of potential targets, prosecutors say
It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares. 2:06 a.m. surveillance video captures this haunting image that US Attorney Joe Thompson says is Vance Belter announcing himself as *** police officer and shining *** flashlight into the eyes of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. When Senator Hoffman attempted to push Belter out and stop him from entering his home. Belter shot him repeatedly in his detailed press conference announcing federal murder charges against Belter, Thompson reveals two additional stops made by Belter before arriving at the home of Representative Melissa Hortman. 2:24 a.m. in Maple Grove in what Carleva News has confirmed is the home of Representative Kristen Bonner. She wasn't there. Then 2:36 a.m. at the home of Senator Ann Rest, *** New Hope police officer sent there to check on Rest interacted with Belter. The senator. Believes that saved her life. Then 3:30 a.m. at the Hortman home, Thompson says police got there just as Belter was rushing through the front door. He repeatedly fired into the house, and when he entered, he murdered Representative Hortman and her husband, Mark. The feds released these photos showing 5 weapons, including AK-47s inside Belcher's SUV, which was disguised as *** police car. This is the alleged murder weapon and that creepy mask discarded outside the Hortman home. Thompson says notebooks found in the vehicle and Belcher's house include the names of at least 45 Minnesota Democratic politicians, including the victims, and online research to find their addresses. According to the criminal. Belter bought that black Buick, the alleged getaway vehicle, after the shootings from *** man he randomly approached at *** bus stop, who then drove him to *** bank to withdraw money. Inside that Buick, when police found it not far from Belter's home, *** confession note writing that he is the shooter at large in Minnesota involved in the two shootings the morning of Saturday, June 15th. Again, it's no exaggeration to say this is the stuff of nightmares.
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Updated: 5:52 AM CDT Jun 17, 2025
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Minnesota shooting suspect had dozens of potential targets, prosecutors say
AP logo
Updated: 5:52 AM CDT Jun 17, 2025
Editorial Standards 鈸�
The man charged with killing one Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another in what prosecutors have described as a meticulously planned attack had dozens of apparent targets, including officials in at least three other states.Vance Boelter allegedly made it to the homes of two other legislators on the night of the attacks, but one was on vacation and the suspect left the other house after police arrived, acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said Monday.All of the politicians named in his writing were Democrats, including more than 45 state and federal officials in Minnesota, Thompson said. Elected leaders in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin said they, too, were mentioned in his writings.Investigators say Boelter appeared to spend months preparing for the shootings 鈥� the latest in a string of political attacks across the U.S.In Minnesota, Boelter carried out surveillance missions, took notes on the homes and people he targeted, and disguised himself as a police officer just before the shootings, Thompson said.鈥淚t is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares,鈥� he said.Boelter surrendered to police Sunday night after they found him in the woods near his home after a massive two-day search. He is accused of fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs.Authorities say he also shot and wounded Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, who lived a few miles away.Federal prosecutors charged Boelter, 57, with murder and stalking, which could result in a death sentence if convicted. He already faces state charges, including murder and attempted murder. At a federal court hearing Monday in St. Paul, Boelter said he could not afford an attorney. A federal public defender was appointed to represent him, and he was being held without bail pending a court appearance next week.Manny Atwal, his lead attorney, declined to comment, saying the office just got the case.Notebooks show careful planningBoelter had many notebooks full of plans, Thompson said. Underscoring what law enforcement officials said was the premeditated nature of the attacks, one notebook contained a list of internet-based people search engines, according to court records.But authorities have not found any writings that would 鈥渃learly identify what motivated him,鈥� Thompson said. He said it was also too soon to speculate on any sort of political ideology.Democratic Rep. Esther Agbaje, whose district includes parts of Minneapolis, said she stayed with friends and family over the weekend after learning that her name appeared on the list of targets.In texts, the suspect said he 鈥榳ent to war鈥橝uthorities declined to reveal the names of the other two lawmakers whose homes were targeted but escaped harm. Democratic Sen. Ann Rest said she was told the suspect parked near her home early Saturday. She said in a statement that the 鈥渜uick action鈥� of law enforcement officers saved her life.Boelter sent a text to a family group chat after the shootings that said: 鈥淒ad went to war last night ... I don鈥檛 wanna say more because I don鈥檛 wanna implicate anybody,鈥� according to an FBI affidavit.His wife got another text that said: 鈥淲ords are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation ... there鈥檚 gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don鈥檛 want you guys around,鈥� the affidavit said.Police later found his wife in a car with her children. Officers found two handguns, about $10,000 in cash and passports for the wife and her children, according to the affidavit.Just hours after the shootings Saturday, Boelter bought an electric bike and a Buick sedan from someone he met at a bus stop in Minneapolis, the federal affidavit said. Police found the sedan abandoned on a highway Sunday morning.In the car, officers found a cowboy hat Boelter had been seen wearing in surveillance footage as well as a letter written to the FBI, authorities said. The letter said it was written by 鈥淒r. Vance Luther Boulter鈥� and he was 鈥渢he shooter at large."The car was found in rural Sibley County, where Boelter owned a home.Coordinated attacks on legislatorsThe Hoffmans were attacked first at their home in Champlin. Their adult daughter called 911 to say a masked person had come to the door and shot her parents.Boelter had shown up carrying a flashlight and a 9 mm handgun and wearing a black tactical vest and a 鈥渉yper-realistic鈥� silicone mask, Thompson said.He first knocked and shouted: 鈥淭his is police.鈥� At one point, the Hoffmans realized he was wearing a mask and Boelter told them 鈥渢his is a robbery.鈥� After Sen. Hoffman tried to push Boelter out the door, Boelter shot him repeatedly and then shot his wife, the prosecutor said.A statement released Sunday by Yvette Hoffman said her husband underwent several surgeries after being hit by nine bullets.After hearing about a lawmaker being shot, officers arrived just in time to see Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the home, according to the complaint. They exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who fled into the home before escaping, the complaint said. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside, according to the document. Their dog also was shot and had to be euthanized.Search for motive continuesWritings recovered from the fake police vehicle included the names of lawmakers and community leaders, along with abortion rights advocates and information about health care facilities, said two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation.Friends and former colleagues interviewed by the AP describe Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church and went to campaign rallies for President Donald Trump.Boelter also is a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, records show, though it was not clear if they knew each other.

The man charged with killing one Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another in what prosecutors have described as a meticulously planned attack had dozens of apparent targets, including officials in at least three other states.

Vance Boelter allegedly made it to the homes of two other legislators on the night of the attacks, but one was on vacation and the suspect left the other house after police arrived, acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said Monday.

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All of the politicians named in his writing were Democrats, including more than 45 state and federal officials in Minnesota, Thompson said. Elected leaders in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin said they, too, were mentioned in his writings.

Investigators say Boelter appeared to spend months preparing for the shootings 鈥� the latest in a string of political attacks across the U.S.

In Minnesota, Boelter carried out surveillance missions, took notes on the homes and people he targeted, and disguised himself as a police officer just before the shootings, Thompson said.

鈥淚t is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares,鈥� he said.

Boelter surrendered to police Sunday night after they found him in the woods near his home after a massive two-day search. He is accused of fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs.

Authorities say he also shot and wounded Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, who lived a few miles away.

Federal prosecutors charged Boelter, 57, with murder and stalking, which could result in a death sentence if convicted. He already faces state charges, including murder and attempted murder. At a federal court hearing Monday in St. Paul, Boelter said he could not afford an attorney. A federal public defender was appointed to represent him, and he was being held without bail pending a court appearance next week.

Manny Atwal, his lead attorney, declined to comment, saying the office just got the case.

Notebooks show careful planning

Boelter had many notebooks full of plans, Thompson said. Underscoring what law enforcement officials said was the premeditated nature of the attacks, one notebook contained a list of internet-based people search engines, according to court records.

But authorities have not found any writings that would 鈥渃learly identify what motivated him,鈥� Thompson said. He said it was also too soon to speculate on any sort of political ideology.

Democratic Rep. Esther Agbaje, whose district includes parts of Minneapolis, said she stayed with friends and family over the weekend after learning that her name appeared on the list of targets.

In texts, the suspect said he 鈥榳ent to war鈥�

Authorities declined to reveal the names of the other two lawmakers whose homes were targeted but escaped harm. Democratic Sen. Ann Rest said she was told the suspect parked near her home early Saturday. She said in a statement that the 鈥渜uick action鈥� of law enforcement officers saved her life.

Boelter sent a text to a family group chat after the shootings that said: 鈥淒ad went to war last night ... I don鈥檛 wanna say more because I don鈥檛 wanna implicate anybody,鈥� according to an FBI affidavit.

His wife got another text that said: 鈥淲ords are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation ... there鈥檚 gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don鈥檛 want you guys around,鈥� the affidavit said.

Police later found his wife in a car with her children. Officers found two handguns, about $10,000 in cash and passports for the wife and her children, according to the affidavit.

Just hours after the shootings Saturday, Boelter bought an electric bike and a Buick sedan from someone he met at a bus stop in Minneapolis, the federal affidavit said. Police found the sedan abandoned on a highway Sunday morning.

In the car, officers found a cowboy hat Boelter had been seen wearing in surveillance footage as well as a letter written to the FBI, authorities said. The letter said it was written by 鈥淒r. Vance Luther Boulter鈥� and he was 鈥渢he shooter at large."

The car was found in rural Sibley County, where Boelter owned a home.

Coordinated attacks on legislators

The Hoffmans were attacked first at their home in Champlin. Their adult daughter called 911 to say a masked person had come to the door and shot her parents.

Boelter had shown up carrying a flashlight and a 9 mm handgun and wearing a black tactical vest and a 鈥渉yper-realistic鈥� silicone mask, Thompson said.

He first knocked and shouted: 鈥淭his is police.鈥� At one point, the Hoffmans realized he was wearing a mask and Boelter told them 鈥渢his is a robbery.鈥� After Sen. Hoffman tried to push Boelter out the door, Boelter shot him repeatedly and then shot his wife, the prosecutor said.

A statement released Sunday by Yvette Hoffman said her husband underwent several surgeries after being hit by nine bullets.

After hearing about a lawmaker being shot, officers arrived just in time to see Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the home, according to the complaint. They exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who fled into the home before escaping, the complaint said. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside, according to the document. Their dog also was shot and had to be euthanized.

Search for motive continues

Writings recovered from the fake police vehicle included the names of lawmakers and community leaders, along with abortion rights advocates and information about health care facilities, said two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation.

Friends and former colleagues interviewed by the AP describe Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church and went to campaign rallies for President Donald Trump.

Boelter also is a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, records show, though it was not clear if they knew each other.