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Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Minnesota shooting suspect faces US charges including murder
US prosecutors charged alleged shooter Vance Boelter with two counts of murder in the deaths of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, in what officials referred to as a 'murderous rampage' on Saturday morning. Boelter, 57, was apprehended Sunday evening after a weekend manhunt that had the region on edge. The Federal Bureau of Investigation had offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Hortman, the Democratic leader in the state House, and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot Saturday at their home in Brooklyn Park, a suburb of Minneapolis. John Hoffman, a Democratic Minnesota state senator, and his wife, Yvette, were wounded in a separate shooting at their home that was also linked to the suspect, who police say arrived at the two homes posing as an officer. In addition to the two federal counts of murder with a firearm, Boelter faces two counts of stalking and two gun counts under US law. Before the federal charges were made public, he was booked into the Hennepin County Jail and held on state murder charges with bail of $5 million. An agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a filing that Boelter was caught with a list of more than 45 Minnesota state and federal public officials, focusing on Democrats, including Hortman. 'This is not a document that would be like a traditional manifesto that's a treatise on all kinds of ideology and writings,' said Drew Evans, superintendent of the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Instead, he called it 'a notebook with a lot of lawmakers and others that are listed,' along with 'other thoughts.' The federal charges could result in a death sentence if Boelter is convicted. State prosecutors said they intend to file charges that could bring a sentence of life without parole. Boelter appeared briefly in federal court in St. Paul on Monday and did not enter a plea to the charges. A lawyer representing him from the Office of the Federal Defender declined to comment on the charges. The shootings sparked fear in Minnesota on a day when protesters filled the streets in cities across the US to oppose Republican President Donald Trump's administration as he held a military parade in Washington. The attacks renewed a focus on political violence that both major parties have deplored for years. Threats against national lawmakers in Washington increased to 9,000 last year from 1,700 in 2016, said US Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat. In a message published by Klobuchar, Yvette Hoffman said she had been shot eight times and her husband, John, nine times. 'We are both incredibly lucky to be alive,' Yvette Hoffman wrote. 'There is never a place for this kind of political hate.' A man wearing a flesh-colored latex mask, blue shirt, tactical vest, badge, gun and flashlight knocked on Senator Hoffman's front door early Saturday, identifying himself as a police officer, according to police and FBI statements filed in court. Boelter knocked on the door shouting 'This is the police. Open the door,' according to the FBI. When the Hoffmans noticed Boelter was wearing a mask, they said he wasn't a real police officer and Senator Hoffman tried to push him out the door. Boelter shot Hoffman 'repeatedly,' then shot Yvette Hoffman, according to filings. The couple's daughter called 911, saying that a masked man had come to the door and shot both her parents. A video surveillance recording showed a Ford SUV with 'police-style lights' parked in the driveway. Boelter drove to the home of an unidentified public official in Maple Grove, repeatedly ringing the doorbell and ordering the occupants to open the door, according to the FBI. No one was home and Boelter left. Boelter then allegedly drove to the home of another Minnesota representative in New Hope. A local police officer, dispatched to the home to make a safety check, saw Boelter in his fake police car nearby, thinking he was a real cop, according to filings. Boelter didn't respond to her attempts to talk with him. The officer continued to the home and Boelter left. Local officers were also sent to State Representative Hortman's home, where they saw Boelter shoot Hortman's husband through the open front doorway, according to filings. The officers exchanged fire with Boelter, who ran inside the house and then fled, leaving the SUV behind. They found Hortman and her husband inside the house, shot dead. Sometime after sunrise Boelter allegedly texted his wife and other family members: 'Dad went to war last night... I don't wanna say anymore because I don't wanna implicate anybody.' A search of the SUV yielded 'at least three AK-47 assault rifles,' a handgun and a list of names and addresses that included other public officials, according to the police. Authorities found Boelter crawling through the woods near his home in Sibley County, the Associated Press reported. They had earlier found a vehicle he was using abandoned in the rural area, the AP said.
The Age
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Age
‘The stuff of nightmares': Man accused of shooting US politicians allegedly had hitlist of 45 names
Authorities declined to name the two other elected officials, but Democratic Senator Ann Rest said she was told the suspect had parked near her home in New Hope early Saturday. She said in a statement on Monday that the 'quick action' of law enforcement officers saved her life. Thompson said Boelter had allegedly meticulously planned the attacks, carrying out surveillance missions, taking notes on the homes and people he targeted and disguising himself as a police officer just before the shootings. 'It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares,' he said. Thompson said Boelter had many notebooks full of plans that appeared to be months in the making. But authorities have not found any writings that would 'clearly identify what motivated him,' Thompson said. Though the targets were Democrats and elected officials, Thompson said it was too soon to speculate on any sort of political ideology. The search for Boelter was the 'largest manhunt in the state's history', Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. It began when officers went to check on Hortman's home and allegedly saw her husband gunned down before the shooter fled. Authorities on Sunday located a vehicle Boelter was using abandoned in rural Sibley County, where he lived, and a police officer reported that he believed he saw Boelter running into the woods, Bruley said. Police set up a large perimeter and called in 20 different tactical teams, divvying up the area and searching for him. During the search, police said they received information confirming someone was in the woods and searched for hours, using a helicopter and officers on foot, until they found Boelter. He was armed but surrendered with no shots fired. 'The suspect crawled to law enforcement teams and was placed under arrest,' Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Geiger of the Minnesota State Patrol told the briefing. A targeted attack Drew Evans, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said the violence probably would have continued had officers not checked on Hortman's home. The Hoffmans were allegedly attacked first at their home in Champin. The criminal complaint indicated their adult daughter called 911 just after 2am to say a masked person had come to the door and shot her parents. After police in nearby Brooklyn Park learned that a politician had been shot, they sent patrol officers to check on the Hortmans. Loading They arrived just in time to see Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the home, the complaint alleges. It alleges officers exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who fled inside the home before escaping the scene. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside. Authorities said Boelter posed as a police officer, even allegedly altering a vehicle to make it look like a police car. No details on motive They did not give a motive as they announced Boelter's arrest. When police searched Boelter's SUV after the shootings, they discovered three AK-47 assault rifles, a 9mm handgun, and a list of public officials, including their addresses, according to the criminal complaint. The list and other writings included the names of prominent state and federal politicians and community leaders, along with abortion rights advocates and information about healthcare facilities, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss details of the ongoing investigation. A Minnesota official said politicians who had been outspoken in favour of abortion rights were on the list. 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. He has links to evangelical ministries and claimed to be a security expert with experience in the Gaza Strip and Africa, according to online postings and public records reviewed by Reuters. About 6am on Saturday, he texted friends to apologise for his actions, though he didn't say what he had done. '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,' he wrote in messages viewed by Associated Press. An escalation in political violence The shootings come as political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated amid deep political divisions. Recent incidents range from a 2022 attack on former Democratic US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband at their home, to an assassination bid on Donald Trump last year, and an arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's house in April. 'This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences,' Walz said. US Senator Amy Klobuchar shared a statement from Yvette Hoffman expressing appreciation for the outpouring of public support. 'John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,' Yvette Hoffman said in a text that Klobuchar posted on social media before the senator emerged from his final surgery. 'He took nine bullet hits. I took eight, and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark.'
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Man suspected of shooting 2 Minnesota lawmakers is in custody after surrendering to police
The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another crawled to officers in surrender on Sunday (June 15, 2025) after they located him in the woods near his home, bringing an end to a massive, nearly two-day search that put the entire state on edge. Vance Boelter was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Jail records show Mr. Boelter was scheduled to appear in court on Monday (June 15, 2025) afternoon. He is accused of posing as a police officer and fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early on Saturday (June 14, 2025) in the northern Minneapolis suburbs. Authorities say he also shot Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette. They were injured at their residence about 9 miles (about 15 km) away. 'One man's unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota,' Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference after Mr. Boelter's arrest. The search for Mr. Boelter was the 'largest manhunt in the state's history,' Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. It began when Brooklyn Park officers went to check on Ms. Hortman's home and saw her husband gunned down before the shooter fled. Authorities on Sunday (June 15, 2025) located a vehicle Mr. Boelter was using abandoned in rural Sibley County, where he lived, and a police officer reported that he believed he saw Mr. Boelter running into the woods, Mr. Bruley said. Police set up a large perimeter and called in 20 different tactical teams, divvying up the area and searching for him. During the search, police said they received information confirming someone was in the woods and searched for hours, using a helicopter and officers on foot, until they found Mr. Boelter. He surrendered to police, crawling out to officers in the woods before he was handcuffed and taken into custody in a field, authorities said. Jail records show Mr. Boelter was booked into the Hennepin County Jail at 1:02 a.m. Central Time on Monday (June 15, 2025) and include two mug shots, one from the front and one from the side, of Mr. Boelter wearing an orange prison shirt. Drew Evans, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said the violence likely would've continued had Brooklyn Park officers not checked on Hortman's home, causing Mr. Boelter to flee. The Hoffmans were attacked first at their home in Champin early on Saturday (June 14, 2025). A criminal complaint unsealed after Mr. Boelter's arrest indicated their adult daughter called 911 just after 2 a.m. to say a masked person had come to the door and shot her parents. After police in nearby Brooklyn Park learned that a lawmaker had been shot, they sent patrol officers to check on the Hortmans' home. Brooklyn Park police officers arrived just in time to see Mr. Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the home, the complaint says. It says they exchanged gunfire with Mr. Boelter, who fled inside the home before escaping the scene. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside, the complaint said. Authorities said Mr. Boelter posed as a police officer, even allegedly altering a vehicle to make it look like a police car. Authorities did not give a motive as they announced Mr. Boelter's arrest. A list of about 70 names was found in writings recovered from the fake police vehicle that was left at the crime scene, said two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss details of the ongoing investigation. The writings and list of names included prominent state and federal lawmakers and community leaders, along with abortion rights advocates and information about health care facilities, according to the officials. A Minnesota official told AP lawmakers who had been outspoken in favour of abortion rights were on the list. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing. Mr. 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. Around 6 a.m. on Saturday (June 14, 2025), Mr. Boelter texted friends to apologize for his actions, though he didn't say what he had done. '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,' he wrote in messages viewed by AP. The shootings come as political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated amid deep political divisions. Lawmakers said they were disturbed by the attacks as Twin Cities residents mourned. 'This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences,' Walz said on Sunday (June 15, 2025). On Sunday (June 15, 2025) evening, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar shared a statement from Yvette Hoffman expressing appreciation for the outpouring of public support. 'John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,' Yvette Hoffman said in a text that Klobuchar posted on social media. 'He took 9 bullet hits. I took 8 and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark.' Brightly colored flowers and small American flags were placed on Sunday (June 15, 2025) on the grey marbled stone of the Minnesota State Capitol, along with a photo of the Hortmans. People scrawled messages on small notes, including, 'You were our leader through the hardest of times. Rest in Power.' Pam Stein came with flowers and knelt by the memorial. An emotional Ms. Stein called Hortman an 'absolute powerhouse' and 'the real unsung hero of Minnesota government.'
Gulf Today
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Man suspected of shooting 2 Minnesota lawmakers caught
The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another has been taken into custody, bringing an end to a massive, nearly two-day search that put the entire state on edge. Vance Boelter was arrested Sunday evening. Former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs. Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were injured at their Champlin home, about 9 miles (about 15 kilometers) away. "One man's unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota," Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference. Boelter was arrested in a rural area in Sibley County, southwest of Minneapolis. "Where he was ultimately taken into custody was in a field," said Drew Evans, superintendent of Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. He said authorities believe Boelter acted alone. This unlocated handout photo shows Vance Boelter, the suspected killer. AFP A criminal complaint unsealed Sunday night says Boelter, 57, faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder in the deaths of the Hortmans and the wounding of Hoffman and his wife. The Hoffmans were attacked first at their home in Champin early Saturday. After police in nearby Brooklyn Park learned of that shooting, they sent patrol officers to check on the Hortmans' home. Brooklyn Park police officers arrived just in time to see Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the home, the complaint says. It says they exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who fled inside the home before escaping the scene. The complaint indicates the shooting at the Hoffmans' home was called in by their adult daughter. Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, speaks during a press conference at the State Emergency Operations Center in Blaine, Minnesota, on Sunday. AP Mark Bruley, Brooklyn Park Police Chief, said the search for the suspect involved 20 different SWAT teams. "There's no question that this is the largest manhunt in the state's history," he said. Earlier Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said authorities found a car very early Sunday they believed Boelter was using, a few miles from his home in Green Isle, in the farm country about an hour west of Minneapolis. He also said they found evidence in the car that was relevant to the investigation, but did not provide details. Authorities named Boelter as a suspect, saying he wore a mask as he posed as a police officer, even allegedly altering a vehicle to make it look like a police car. Evens confirmed that investigators found a cowboy hat near the vehicle and believe it belonged to Boelter. The superintendent also said authorities interviewed Boelter's wife and other family members in connection with Saturday's shootings. He said they were cooperative and were not in custody. More than 100 law enforcement officers including SWAT teams searched the area, including nearby homes, Evans said. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a press conference in Blaine, Minnesota. AP The earlier search happened in rural Sibley County, roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Minneapolis, where Boelter had a home with his wife and five children. Residents in the area received an emergency alert about the located vehicle that warned them to lock their doors and cars. The shootings come as political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated amid deep political divisions. Lawmakers said they were disturbed by the attacks as Twin Cities residents mourned. Brightly colored flowers and small American flags were placed Sunday on the gray marbled stone of the Minnesota State Capitol along with a photo of the Hortmans. People scrawled messages on small notes including, "You were our leader through the hardest of times. Rest in Power." Pam Stein came with flowers and kneeled by the memorial. An emotional Stein called Hortman an "absolute powerhouse" and "the real unsung hero of Minnesota government." Authorities have not yet given details on a motive. A list of about 70 names was found in writings recovered from the fake police vehicle that was left at the crime scene, the officials said. The writings and list of names included prominent state and federal lawmakers and community leaders, along with abortion rights advocates and information about healthcare facilities, according to the officials. Evans clarified that while he described the materials on Saturday as a "manifesto," the papers were not a political or ideological treatise. He said it was more of a notebook, listing lawmakers and other people, with various thoughts mixed in. He declined to give details. A Minnesota official told AP lawmakers who had been outspoken in favor of abortion rights were on the list. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing. The attacks prompted warnings to other state elected officials and the cancellation of planned "No Kings" demonstrations against President Donald Trump, though some went ahead anyway, including one that drew tens of thousands to the State Capitol in St. Paul. Authorities said the suspect had "No Kings" flyers in his car. 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. Around 6am on Saturday, Boelter texted friends to apologize for his actions, though he didn't say what he had done. Flowers and hand-written sit at a memorial outside the Minnesota State Capitol in honour of Democratic state assemblywoman Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, after a gunman killed them, in St. Paul, Minnesota, US, on Sunday. Reuters "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," he wrote in messages viewed by AP. On Sunday evening, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar shared a statement from Yvette Hoffman expressing appreciation for the outpouring of public support. "John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods," Yvette Hoffman said in a text that Klobuchar posted on social media. "He took 9 bullet hits. I took 8 and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark." On social media, Gov. Tim Walz remembered Hortman on Sunday as, "The most consequential Speaker in state history." 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 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. The couple had an adult son and an adult daughter. 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 adult daughter. Associated Press
Hamilton Spectator
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Man suspected of shooting 2 Minnesota lawmakers charged with murder after surrendering to police
BELLE PLAINE, Minn. (AP) — The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another crawled to officers in order to surrender Sunday after they found him in the woods near his home, bringing an end to a massive, nearly two-day search that put the entire state on edge. Vance Boelter was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Jail records show he was scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon. Boelter is accused of posing as a police officer and 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 Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette. They were injured at their residence about 9 miles (about 15 kilometers) away. 'One man's unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota,' Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference after Boelter's arrest. The search for Boelter was the 'largest manhunt in the state's history,' Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. It began when Brooklyn Park officers went to check on Hortman's home and saw her husband gunned down before the shooter fled. Authorities on Sunday spotted a vehicle Boelter had been using abandoned in rural Sibley County, where he lived, and a police officer reported that he believed he saw Boelter running into the woods, Bruley said. Police called in 20 different tactical teams, divvying up the area and searching for him. During the search, police said they confirmed someone was in the woods and searched for hours, using a helicopter and officers on foot, until they found Boelter. He gave himself up to police, crawling out to officers in the woods before he was handcuffed and taken into custody in a field, authorities said. Jail records show Boelter was booked into the Hennepin County Jail early Monday and included two mug shots of Boelter wearing an orange prison shirt. A targeted attack Drew Evans, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said the violence likely would've continued had Brooklyn Park officers not checked on Hortman's home, causing Boelter to flee. The Hoffmans were attacked first at their home in Champlin early Saturday. A criminal complaint unsealed after Boelter's arrest indicated their adult daughter called 911 to say a masked person had come to the door and shot her parents. After police in nearby Brooklyn Park learned that a lawmaker had been shot, they sent patrol officers to check on the Hortmans' home. Brooklyn Park police officers arrived just in time to see Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the home and exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who fled into the home before escaping, the complaint said. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside, according to the document. Authorities said Boelter posed as a police officer, even allegedly altering a vehicle to make it look like a police car. A Minnesota lawmaker said that Hortman's dog had to be euthanized after being shot in the attack. 'Her children had to put down him after learning their parents had been murdered, ' Rep. Erin Koegel posted on the social media platform X. 'Gilbert wasn't going to survive. Melissa loved that dog. She trained him as a service dog. He flunked out of school and she was so happy he failed so he could stay!' No details on motive Authorities did not give a motive for the shootings as they announced Boelter's arrest. A list of about 70 names was found in writings recovered from the fake police vehicle at the crime scene, 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. The writings and list of names included prominent state and federal lawmakers and community leaders, along with abortion rights advocates and information about health care facilities, according to the officials. A Minnesota official told AP lawmakers who had been outspoken in favor of abortion rights were on the list. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing. 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. Just hours after the shootings, Boelter texted friends to apologize for his actions, though he didn't say what he had done. '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,' he wrote in messages viewed by the AP. An escalation in political violence The shootings come as political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated amid deep political divisions. Lawmakers said they were disturbed by the attacks as Twin Cities residents mourned. On Sunday, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar shared a statement from Yvette Hoffman expressing appreciation for the outpouring of public support. 'John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,' Yvette Hoffman said in a text that Klobuchar posted on social media. 'He took 9 bullet hits. I took 8 and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark.' Brightly colored flowers and small American flags were placed Sunday on the gray marbled stone of the Minnesota State Capitol along with a photo of the Hortmans . Pam Stein came with flowers and knelt by the memorial. An emotional Stein called Hortman an 'absolute powerhouse' and 'the real unsung hero of Minnesota government.' ___ Karnowski reported from Minneapolis, and Balsamo and Durkin Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Michael Biesecker in Washington; Jim Mustian in New York; Sophia Tareen in Chicago, Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska, and Makiya Seminera in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
