Vance Boelter, dressed as an officer, killed Rep. Hortman and his husband aimed to assassinate more democrats
The man accused of gunning down Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband in their Brooklyn Park home was on a broader mission of political violence, prosecutors revealed Monday.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, now in federal custody, is accused of launching a premeditated assassination campaign against several Democratic state lawmakers, using disguises, fake police gear, and a latex mask. He succeeded in killing Rep. Hortman and her husband, Mark, and seriously injuring Senator John Hoffman and his wife in separate attacks early Saturday morning.
Authorities said Boelter had meticulously researched his targets, tracking their residences, movements, and even family members. “He stalked his victims like prey,” said acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson. “This was a political assassination. It is a chilling attack on democracy itself.”
Boelter’s shocking spree began around midnight on Saturday. He approached the Hoffmans’ Champlin home in a black SUV rigged to look like a police cruiser. Wearing a hyper-realistic mask and impersonating law enforcement, he knocked on their door. When the couple answered, he opened fire.
Despite being struck multiple times, both John and Yvette Hoffman survived and remain in serious condition in hospital.
But Boelter wasn’t finished. He next travelled to a state representative’s house in Maple Grove. She wasn’t home—on vacation, authorities said—but her doorbell camera caught him lurking at 2:24am. Minutes later, he turned up outside a state senator’s home. A real police officer responding to a wellness check spotted his vehicle and briefly interacted with him. She assumed he was a fellow cop, but grew suspicious when he stayed silent and stared blankly ahead. By the time backup arrived, he had vanished.
By 3:30am, Boelter had arrived at Rep. Hortman’s house—his final stop. Police responding to gunfire found him standing on the porch. He opened fire on them, then stormed inside and murdered Hortman and her husband before fleeing on foot.
Authorities mounted a massive manhunt involving twenty tactical teams and aerial surveillance. Boelter was finally found in a field near Green Isle after hours of searching. He surrendered following brief negotiations.
“He crawled out of the woods,” said Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley. “It was over quickly once we had him surrounded.”
Inside his vehicle, authorities uncovered a handwritten confession. His wife’s car revealed two firearms, $10,000 in cash, and their passports. In a remorseful message sent to his wife, Boelter warned: “There’s gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don’t want you guys around.”
Officials emphasised that his wife and relatives are not suspects and have cooperated fully.
The full scope of Boelter’s intentions is still unfolding. Investigators uncovered a 20-page federal indictment and hundreds of pages of documents in his possession. These contained names and addresses of Democratic officials, abortion rights activists, and even healthcare facilities.
The FBI said the list reflected an organised and ideologically driven plan to carry out further violence. Boelter’s motive remains officially undetermined, but every known target was a Democrat.
As he appeared in court on Monday, Boelter said he couldn’t afford a lawyer. A federal public defender has been appointed. Prosecutors hinted that the death penalty could be sought, pending a formal federal trial.
Officials hope the brutality of the crime forces a national reckoning. “You can disagree with someone without treating them as evil,” said Thompson. “No one should die for their politics.”
Governor Tim Walz, lawmakers from both parties, and national political leaders have expressed horror and called for unity and strengthened security protocols. The Minnesota State Capitol has been placed under enhanced surveillance.
The killings are a devastating moment for a state still reeling from political tensions. Rep. Hortman was a prominent advocate for voting rights and reproductive healthcare. Her death, and the terrifying breadth of Boelter’s plan, has sparked fear but also determination to confront the rise of political violence.
