A 57-year-old man, Vance Luther Boelter, is facing six federal charges after allegedly killing Democratic state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and injuring another state lawmaker, John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette Hoffman in Minnesota. According to US Attorney Joseph H. Thompson, Boelter attempted to kill two other state lawmakers in “truly chilling” attacks, showcasing a larger plan that police thwarted.
Boelter allegedly researched his victims and their families beforehand, carefully planning his attack. He arrived at the Hoffman home disguised as a police officer, wearing a “hyper-realistic silicon mask” and flashing emergency lights on his vehicle. Thompson said authorities have a clear picture of what happened due to the Hoffmans’ security camera outside their front door. When the Hoffmans opened the door, Boelter shined a flashlight at the couple, told them there was a shooting reported in the house, and then fired multiple times after they realized he wasn’t a police officer.
After shooting the Hoffmans, Boelter allegedly visited two other state lawmakers’ homes, but they were not present. An officer encountered Boelter, who stared straight ahead when asked what he was doing, before proceeding to the Hortman residence, where he allegedly killed Melissa and Mark Hortman. Police engaged in a gunfight with Boelter at the scene, but he fled and was later found hiding in a wooded area west of Minneapolis. Boelter surrendered peacefully, crawling towards officers.
Authorities discovered five firearms, including assault-style rifles, large quantities of ammunition, and a list of over 45 Minnesota state and federal elected officials in Boelter’s car. Mark Bruley, police chief from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, said the officers who arrived at the Hortman home “foiled” a larger plan by taking Boelter’s vehicle away from him.
Boelter faces six federal charges, including two counts of stalking, two counts of murder, and two firearms-related charges, some of which make him eligible for the death penalty. At the state level, he is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder. Thompson described the attack as “a chilling attack on our democracy, on our way of life” and noted that “people can disagree with you without being evil or needing to be killed or hurt.”
The community is paying respects to Melissa Hortman, with many describing her loss as “tragic.” John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, are expected to make a full recovery from their injuries.