The suspect in the shooting deaths of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, visited “no less than four” homes of Minnesota state legislators very early Saturday before ultimately fleeing under police gunfire.
All of the targets were Democrats.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson detailed 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter’s alleged movements in a press conference Monday announcing federal homicide charges against him that carry the possibility of the death penalty.
The charges included shooting Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, murdering the Hortmans, and stalking both couples.
Thompson did not disclose the names of the two other homes where Boelter did not fire any rounds, but one lawmaker — Minnesota state Sen. Ann Rest — identified herself as a potential target.
“This is the stuff of nightmares,” Thompson told reporters, describing how Boelter stalked his targets “like prey.”
The deadly rampage, carried out by a suspect disguised as a police officer, began at the Hoffmans’ home around 2 a.m. and ended at the Hortmans’ after 3:30 a.m.
Prosecutors revealed that Boelter wore a black tactical vest, body armor, a “hyperrealistic silicone mask,” and carried a flashlight and 9mm Beretta handgun, with additional weapons including assault-style rifles in his SUV, which was made to resemble a real police vehicle.
Thompson mentioned that Boelter then went to two other houses before reaching the Hortmans’.
At one home in Maple Grove, Minnesota, the residents were away on vacation.
At another home in New Hope, Minnesota — the residence of Rest — a real law enforcement officer on the scene seemed to act as a deterrent.
Thompson explained that news of the shooting at the Hoffmans’ Champlin, Minnesota, home had put law enforcement on high alert. A New Hope Police officer tried to engage with the suspect in his SUV while waiting for backup at Rest’s home, but received no response; he left before backup arrived.
Rest, in a statement, acknowledged that the suspect had parked in front of her home and expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their response.
“While I am relieved the suspect has been captured, my heart aches for the loss of Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and I am praying for the recovery of John and Yvette Hoffman,” Rest stated.
Officers had also been dispatched to check on the Hortmans in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, arriving simultaneously with the suspect.
A chaotic scene unfolded, with Boelter allegedly barging into the home — in full view of police officers — to shoot the couple and their family dog before fleeing out the back amid gunfire. The couple’s daughter dialed 911.
The Hortmans were rushed to a hospital, but tragically succumbed to their injuries.
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via AP
Law enforcement discovered the suspect’s tactical gear, weapon, and mask discarded along his escape route.
The violence triggered the largest manhunt in Minnesota state history, culminating in Boelter’s arrest on Sunday in a wooded area in Minnesota after he was spotted on a trail camera by a local resident. He was initially charged with state-level murder counts, which will run concurrently with the federal case.
Boelter was scheduled to appear in federal court at 1:30 p.m. local time.
An FBI affidavit shed light on Boelter’s actions following the shootings. He allegedly sent a group text to his family members at 6:18 a.m. Saturday, stating, “Dad went to war last night.” Another text on Boelter’s wife’s phone cautioned about the potential arrival of “trigger-happy” law enforcement officers; Boelter’s wife and children were found in a car with $10,000 cash, their passports, and two handguns.
Boelter reportedly fled on foot to a bus stop, where he attempted to buy an e-bike and a Buick sedan from an unnamed witness, abandoning his SUV at the Hortmans’. He visited a bank to withdraw cash, and footage of him was captured on security cameras.
Further evidence linking Boelter to the shootings was apparently discovered at a residence he shared part-time with a roommate.
Prosecutors have refrained from speculating on a motive in the shootings, although they confirmed the recovery of hundreds of pages of maps, notebooks, and names of other potential targets in the back of the suspect’s SUV.
“Let me say this: There’s been a lot of press coverage and speculation and discussion about a manifesto. I’ve seen nothing like a Unabomber-style manifesto in his writings,” Thompson stated.
“He had many, many notebooks full of plans, lists of names, surveillance,” he continued. “But I have not seen anything involving sort of a political screed or manifesto that would clearly identify what motivated him.”
CORRECTION: The name of one location the shooter visited has been corrected.
