Beloved Dog Joined Minnesota Lawmaker, Husband as They Lay in State
Between Hortman's casket and that of her husband was an urn containing the ashes of the family's golden retriever, Gilbert.
A former service-dog-in-training, Gilbert was with Hortman, the Minnesota House speaker, and her husband this month at their home in a Minneapolis suburb when the couple were fatally shot in a case that made national headlines and has left young lawmakers questioning whether politics is too dangerous as a career.
Gilbert also received multiple gunshot wounds, and despite attempts to save him, he was euthanized.
Vance Boelter, 57, from Green Isle, Minnesota, is facing state and federal murder charges in the June 14 killing. He is also accused of shooting state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, who were seriously wounded in what state and federal prosecutors allege was a broader plot to assassinate politicians.
On Saturday, a private funeral will take place. Gov. Tim Walz (D) and former vice president Kamala Harris are expected to attend, with Walz delivering a eulogy.
Hortman was the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans to lie in state at the Minnesota Capitol. Mark Hortman, meanwhile, was the first Minnesotan to lie in state who was not a public official or a military figure. It also appeared to be the first time a dog received such an honor, according to a list from the Minnesota Historical Society.
The Hortmans had volunteered with Helping Paws as foster home trainers, helping to raise and train service dogs, the nonprofit said in a statement after the couple's deaths. The family had trained another dog, who now works with a veteran, but Gilbert had been too friendly to complete his training. He 'eventually career changed and became a cherished member of their family,' the group said.
'She loved Gilbert so much. The day Gilbert didn't graduate doggy school was one of her happiest [days], because that meant Gilbert could stay with her. Gilbert was truly the best dog ever,' fellow Minnesota Rep. Kaohly Vang Her (D) wrote on Facebook.
In a post on X on Friday, the Minnesota House of Representatives Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus said: 'We are incredibly touched by the amount of people who are visiting the Capitol today to pay their respects to Melissa, Mark, and their Golden Retriever Gilbert.'
The Hortmans' coffins were topped by large flower arrangements, with portraits set beside them. Gilbert's ashes were on a pedestal between them, in a golden urn encircled with paw prints, accompanied by a photo.
As mourners came to pay their respects to the Hortmans, some also left tributes to Gilbert, including a box of dog biscuits with a note reading: 'For the best boy, Gilbert.' Another note read: 'Well done, faithful servant.'
Alyssa Golob, executive director at Helping Paws, said in a phone interview Saturday that she offered the Hortmans' children, Sophie and Colin, an 'honor guard' of dogs at the funeral, which is something the group offers to members of the community. She said around 20 dogs took up a sentry position for 30 minutes each on Friday, with one patted by former president Joe Biden as he paid his respects.
'For me and my staff, it's been very, very difficult. People in our community just knew them on different levels. I think everyone is still in shock,' she said.
Allied Emergency Veterinary Service, which treated Gilbert after the shooting, said its team had worked with several experts 'to fully understand the extent of Gilbert's injuries and explore every possible outcome' and had ensured that he 'received the very best of our knowledge, care, and compassion' before euthanizing him. The group has launched a fundraising drive in Gilbert's memory for police and service dogs in need of emergency care.
Sophie and Colin Hortman previously released a statement saying they were 'devastated and heartbroken' by the deaths of their parents. Those who wanted to honor their memory could consider planting a tree, baking food to share with a friend, standing up for justice and peace, or petting a dog, their statement said.
'A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.'
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Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Beloved Dog Joined Minnesota Lawmaker, Husband as They Lay in State
Thousands of people lined up at the Minnesota Capitol to pay tribute to slain lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as they lay in state Friday, ahead of Saturday's funeral. Between Hortman's casket and that of her husband was an urn containing the ashes of the family's golden retriever, Gilbert. A former service-dog-in-training, Gilbert was with Hortman, the Minnesota House speaker, and her husband this month at their home in a Minneapolis suburb when the couple were fatally shot in a case that made national headlines and has left young lawmakers questioning whether politics is too dangerous as a career. Gilbert also received multiple gunshot wounds, and despite attempts to save him, he was euthanized. Vance Boelter, 57, from Green Isle, Minnesota, is facing state and federal murder charges in the June 14 killing. He is also accused of shooting state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, who were seriously wounded in what state and federal prosecutors allege was a broader plot to assassinate politicians. On Saturday, a private funeral will take place. Gov. Tim Walz (D) and former vice president Kamala Harris are expected to attend, with Walz delivering a eulogy. Hortman was the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans to lie in state at the Minnesota Capitol. Mark Hortman, meanwhile, was the first Minnesotan to lie in state who was not a public official or a military figure. It also appeared to be the first time a dog received such an honor, according to a list from the Minnesota Historical Society. The Hortmans had volunteered with Helping Paws as foster home trainers, helping to raise and train service dogs, the nonprofit said in a statement after the couple's deaths. The family had trained another dog, who now works with a veteran, but Gilbert had been too friendly to complete his training. He 'eventually career changed and became a cherished member of their family,' the group said. 'She loved Gilbert so much. The day Gilbert didn't graduate doggy school was one of her happiest [days], because that meant Gilbert could stay with her. Gilbert was truly the best dog ever,' fellow Minnesota Rep. Kaohly Vang Her (D) wrote on Facebook. In a post on X on Friday, the Minnesota House of Representatives Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus said: 'We are incredibly touched by the amount of people who are visiting the Capitol today to pay their respects to Melissa, Mark, and their Golden Retriever Gilbert.' The Hortmans' coffins were topped by large flower arrangements, with portraits set beside them. Gilbert's ashes were on a pedestal between them, in a golden urn encircled with paw prints, accompanied by a photo. As mourners came to pay their respects to the Hortmans, some also left tributes to Gilbert, including a box of dog biscuits with a note reading: 'For the best boy, Gilbert.' Another note read: 'Well done, faithful servant.' Alyssa Golob, executive director at Helping Paws, said in a phone interview Saturday that she offered the Hortmans' children, Sophie and Colin, an 'honor guard' of dogs at the funeral, which is something the group offers to members of the community. She said around 20 dogs took up a sentry position for 30 minutes each on Friday, with one patted by former president Joe Biden as he paid his respects. 'For me and my staff, it's been very, very difficult. People in our community just knew them on different levels. I think everyone is still in shock,' she said. Allied Emergency Veterinary Service, which treated Gilbert after the shooting, said its team had worked with several experts 'to fully understand the extent of Gilbert's injuries and explore every possible outcome' and had ensured that he 'received the very best of our knowledge, care, and compassion' before euthanizing him. The group has launched a fundraising drive in Gilbert's memory for police and service dogs in need of emergency care. Sophie and Colin Hortman previously released a statement saying they were 'devastated and heartbroken' by the deaths of their parents. Those who wanted to honor their memory could consider planting a tree, baking food to share with a friend, standing up for justice and peace, or petting a dog, their statement said. 'A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.'
Japan Today
16-06-2025
- Japan Today
Suspect in Minnesota lawmaker killing visited other legislators' homes, prosecutors say
Flowers and hand-written messages sit at a memorial outside the Minnesota State Capitol in honor of Democratic state assemblywoman Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, after a gunman killed them, in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S., June 15, 2025. REUTERS/Tim Evans By Nathan Layne The suspect accused of assassinating a Minnesota lawmaker and shooting another this weekend drove to the homes of at least four state politicians as part of a planned killing spree, U.S. authorities said on Monday. Vance Boelter, 57, faces state and federal murder charges after his arrest on Sunday night following a massive two-day manhunt that was the largest in state history. He is accused of fatally shooting Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband Mark, in their home on Saturday. Boelter is also charged with shooting and wounding Democratic lawmaker, state Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette, in their home a few miles away. Prosecutors said on Monday that Boelter visited the homes of two other lawmakers disguised as a police officer, hunting more targets. Investigators said they recovered notebooks from his car and residence that included the names of dozens of Democratic legislators, along with abortion rights advocates. They also revealed that he sent a text to his family hours after the shooting that said in part, "Dad went to war last night." "Political assassinations are rare," Joseph Thompson, Minnesota's acting U.S. attorney, said at a news conference. "They strike at the very core of our democracy." Thompson said a precise motive was not yet clear. Contrary to earlier news reports, authorities have not discovered a "Unabomber-style manifesto," he said. The killings unfolded against a backdrop of increasing political violence in the U.S. in an era of extreme social and political polarization. President Donald Trump was the target of two assassination attempts during his campaign last year, including at a Pennsylvania rally that left him with a wounded ear and killed one bystander. In April, a man broke into the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and set it on fire while Shapiro and his family were asleep. Boelter made a brief appearance in St. Paul federal court on Monday to face murder and other charges, which could result in the death penalty. Wearing an orange jumpsuit, he told a judge he understood the charges against him and remained composed throughout the 15-minute hearing. He did not enter a plea and will return to court on June 27. Boelter's court-appointed attorney, Matthew Deates, declined to comment after the hearing. Boelter also faces separate state murder charges in Hennepin County. 'CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE' Political tensions were already high on Saturday. Mass protests against Trump's agenda took place across the country, fueled in part by the deployment of U.S. Marines and National Guard troops over immigration protests in Los Angeles and a military parade in Washington on the president's birthday. "Vance Luther Boelter embarked on a planned campaign of stalking and violence, designed to inflict fear, injure and kill members of the Minnesota state legislature and their families," an FBI affidavit unsealed on Monday read. The attacks began around 2 a.m. on Saturday, when a gunman wearing a police-style tactical vest and a "hyper-realistic silicone mask" knocked on the Hoffmans' door in Champlin, announced himself as a police officer and then shot the couple multiple times, according to prosecutors. He was driving an SUV outfitted with police-style lights and a fake license plate that read "POLICE." Boelter then traveled to the home of another state lawmaker in Maple Grove, where he rang the doorbell at 2:24 a.m., Thompson said. The official, whom prosecutors did not name, was not home. Boelter also visited the home of an unnamed state senator in New Hope, prosecutors said. A officer dispatched to the house to check on the senator after the Hoffman shooting saw Boelter parked outside and believed he was another police officer. When Boelter ignored the officer's greeting, the officer went to the door to wait for additional police, Thompson said. Boelter had left by the time they arrived. Shortly after, police went to the Hortmans' house in Brooklyn Park as a precaution. The arriving officers saw the suspect shoot Mark Hortman through an open door around 3:35 a.m. and exchanged fire with him before he fled out the back, according to prosecutors. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside. When police searched Boelter's SUV, they discovered three assault-style rifles, a handgun, a gold police-style badge and a target list, according to authorities. Boelter's notebooks showed he had planned the attacks for some time. He had the names and, in some cases, home addresses for more than 45 elected officials, "mostly or all Democrats," according to the affidavit. In one book, Boelter noted the Hortmans had two children and added surveillance details about their house, writing, "Big house off golf course 2 ways in to watch from one spot," the affidavit said. MASSIVE MANHUNT Boelter's wife and other family members received a text message at 6:18 a.m. that read, "Dad went to war last night... I don't wanna say more because I don't wanna implicate anybody," according to the affidavit. A second text warned them to leave the house because some "armed and trigger-happy" people were coming. Boelter's wife also consented to a search of her car, which turned up two handguns, about $10,000 cash and passports for family members, who were in the car when police came to the house, the affidavit said. Authorities said the investigation would determine if Boelter's wife had any role in, or was aware of, the suspect's plan beforehand. He has five children, according to media reports. Around 7 a.m. on Saturday, Boelter encountered someone at a bus stop in Minneapolis and eventually offered to buy his Buick, according to prosecutors. Investigators on Sunday found the Buick in rural Sibley County about an hour's drive from Minneapolis, near Boelter's listed home address. Inside the car, officers found a handwritten letter to the FBI, in which Boelter gave his name and admitted to the shootings, according to the affidavit. More than 20 SWAT teams combed the area, aided by surveillance aircraft. Boelter, who was armed, crawled from a wooded area and surrendered to police in a field. Minnesota U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar shared on social media a text from Yvette Hoffman on Sunday that said her husband had been shot nine times, while she was shot eight times. "We are both incredibly lucky to be alive," Yvette Hoffman wrote. "We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark." © Thomson Reuters 2025.
The Mainichi
16-06-2025
- The Mainichi
Authorities still searching for suspect in shooting of 2 Minnesota state lawmakers
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (AP) -- Hundreds of law officers fanned out across a Minneapolis suburb Saturday in pursuit of a man who authorities say posed as a police officer and fatally shot a Democratic state lawmaker in her home in what Gov. Tim Walz called "a politically motivated assassination." Authorities said the suspect also shot and wounded a second lawmaker and was believed to be trying to flee the area. Democratic former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their Brooklyn Park home. Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were injured at their Champlin address, about 9 miles (about 15 kilometers) away. Authorities identified the suspect as 57-year-old Vance Boelter, and the FBI issued a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Authorities displayed a photo taken Saturday of Boelter wearing a tan cowboy hat and asked the public to report sightings. Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said investigators obtained video as well. He did not give details on a possible motive. Boelter is a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, records show, though it was not clear if or how well they knew each other. The early morning attacks prompted warnings to other elected officials around the state and the cancellation of planned "No Kings" demonstrations against President Donald Trump, though some went ahead anyway. Authorities said the suspect had "No Kings" flyers in his car and writings mentioning the names of the victims as well as other lawmakers and officials, though they could not say if he had any other specific targets. A Minnesota official told The Associated Press that the suspect's writings also contained information targeting prominent lawmakers who have been outspoken in favor of abortion rights. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing. The shootings happened at a time when political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated amid deep political divisions. "We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence," Walz, a Democrat, said at a news conference. "Those responsible for this will be held accountable." The governor also ordered flags to fly at half-staff in Hortman's honor. Law enforcement agents recovered several AK-style firearms from the suspect's vehicle, and he was believed to still be armed with a pistol, a person familiar with the matter told AP. The person could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity. An overnight shooting Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans' home shortly after 2 a.m., Champlin police said, and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds. After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to proactively check on Hortman's home. There they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer at the door, leaving the house. "When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home" and escaped on foot, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. Multiple bullet holes could be seen in the front door of Hoffman's home. John and Yvette Hoffman each underwent surgery, according to Walz. "We are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt," the governor said at a morning news conference. Trump said in a statement that the FBI would join in the investigation. "Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!" Two Democratic lawmakers targeted Hortman, 55, had been the top Democratic leader in the state House since 2017. She led Democrats in a three-week walkout at the beginning of this year's session in a power struggle with Republicans. Under a power sharing agreement, she turned the gavel over to Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth and assumed the title speaker emerita. Hortman used her position as speaker in 2023 to help champion expanded protections for abortion rights, including legislation to solidify Minnesota's status as a refuge for patients from restrictive states who travel to the state to seek abortions -- and to protect providers who serve them. Walz called her a "formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota." "She woke up every day, determined to make this state a better place," he said. "She is irreplaceable." Hortman and her husband had two adult children. The initial autopsy reports from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office gave their cause of death as "multiple gunshot wounds." The reports said Melissa Hortman died at the scene while her husband was pronounced dead at the hospital. Hoffman, 60, was first elected in 2012 and was chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, which oversees one of the biggest parts of the state budget. He and his wife have one daughter. State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic asked people "out of an abundance of caution" not to attend "No Kings" protests. Bogojevic said authorities did not have any direct evidence that the protests would be targeted, but noted the "No Kings" flyers in the car. Organizers announced that all demonstrations in the state were canceled, but many people still showed up for protests at the Capitol and elsewhere in the Twin Cities area. The suspect Boelter was appointed to the workforce development board in 2016 and then reappointed in 2019 to a four-year term that expired in 2023, state records show. Corporate records show Boelter's wife filed to create a company called Praetorian Guard Security Services LLC with the same Green Isle mailing address listed for the couple. On a website for the business, Boelter's wife is listed as president and CEO, while he is listed as director of security patrols. The homepage says it provides armed security for property and events and features a photo of an SUV painted in a two-tone black and silver pattern similar to a police vehicle, with a light bar across the roof and "Praetorian" painted across the doors. Another photo shows a man in black tactical gear with a military-style helmet and a ballistic vest. An online resume says Boelter is a security contractor who has worked in the Middle East and Africa, in addition to past managerial roles at companies in Minnesota. Boelter texted friends at a Minneapolis residence, where he had rented a room and would stay one or two nights a week, to say he had "made some choices," the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. In the messages, read to reporters by David Carlson, Boelter did not specify what he had done but said: "I'm going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn't gone this way. ... I'm sorry for all the trouble this has caused." A former next-door neighbor in Inver Grove Heights, where Boelter used to live, said he hardly knew him but remembers his daughters because they kayaked and ice skated on the pond behind the homes. "It's really sad for the kids, very, very nice kids," Michael Cassidy said. He added that the suspect's wife once came over to pray with his wife and daughter. Massive search Hundreds of police and sheriff deputies, some in tactical gear with assault-style weapons, were scattered throughout the town. Some checkpoints were set up. Police lifted a shelter-in-place order in the afternoon, saying they had reason to believe the suspect was no longer in the area. "This is crazy, someone going after representatives," said Brooklyn Park resident Douglas Thompson, 62. "This is wrong. I'm hoping they'll catch them." Political violence Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Spring, called the attack "evil" and said she was "heartbroken beyond words" by the killings. The shootings are the latest in a series of attacks against lawmakers across parties. In April a suspect set fire to the home of Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, forcing him and his family to flee during the Jewish holiday of Passover. The suspect said he planned to beat Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he found him, according to court documents. In July 2024, Trump was grazed on the ear by one of a hail of bullets that killed a Trump supporter. Two months later a man with a rifle was discovered near the president's Florida golf course and arrested. Other incidents include a 2022 hammer attack on the husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in their San Francisco home and a 2020 plot by anti-government extremists to kidnap Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and start a civil war. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he asked Capitol Police to "immediately increase security" for Minnesota Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. He also asked Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, to hold a briefing on member security. "Condemning violence is important but it is not enough," Schumer said on the social platform X. "We must also confront the toxic forces radicalizing individuals and we must do more to protect one another, our democracy, and the values that bind us as Americans."
