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New York Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
What We Know About How the Minnesota Assassination Case May Unfold
Federal and state prosecutors have brought 10 charges against a man they say killed a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband in a political assassination. Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested on Sunday and accused of shooting and killing State Representative Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband, Mark, at their home in a suburb of Minneapolis. The gunman, who posed as a police officer, also shot and injured Democratic State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their home nearby, and visited the houses of two other lawmakers that same morning. The U.S. attorney's office in Minneapolis brought murder charges, which could carry the death penalty. State prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, charges they said they planned to upgrade to first-degree murder. What are the other charges? Mr. Boelter was charged with six federal counts. In addition to two murder charges, he is charged with two felonies for stalking Ms. Hortman and Mr. Hortman, which means he is accused of traveling across state lines or using interstate commerce with the intent to injure, harass, intimidate or place someone under surveillance, causing them fear or distress. Under the stalking charges, federal prosecutors have accused Mr. Boelter of 'taking deliberate steps to research his victims,' identifying their home addresses and purchasing materials to impersonate a police officer. Mr. Boelter also faces two counts of shooting, one for shooting the Hortmans and another for shooting Mr. Hoffman and his wife, who are both expected to recover. Federal officials have not indicated whether they intend to pursue the death penalty for the murder charges, but President Trump has encouraged the attorney general to pursue capital punishment when possible. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
16-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Suspect Planned to ‘Inflict Fear' With Wider Killing Spree, Prosecutors Say
Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota praised Hope Hoffman, the daughter of State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, saying her actions at the family home after a gunman wounded her parents were 'heroic' and saved countless lives. The suspected gunman, Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested on Sunday after a two-day manhunt, the largest in state history. Officials said the suspect entered the Hoffmans' home in suburban Minneapolis early Saturday by posing as a police officer. Hope Hoffman called 911, according to charging documents, prompting a law enforcement alert that led officers to also check the home of State Representative Melissa Hortman nearby. On arrival at the Hortmans' house, officers exchanged gunfire with the gunman before he escaped. Ms. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in that attack. 'I'd like to say on behalf of the state of Minnesota, the heroic actions by the Hoffman family and their daughter, Hope, saved countless lives, and we are grateful,' Mr. Tim Walz said at a news conference late Sunday to announce the arrest of Mr. Boelter. Mr. Walz did not elaborate on the Hoffmans' actions. The couple's nephew, Mat Ollig, wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday that has since been deleted that Mr. Hoffman's wife, Yvette, 'threw herself onto her daughter, using her body as a shield to save her life.' Drew Evans, the head of the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said investigators had talked with the Hoffmans on Sunday but provided no new details about the events at their home. Mr. Boelter, who was charged late Sunday evening with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, possessed a notebook that mentioned about 70 potential targets, including politicians, civic and business leaders, as well as Planned Parenthood centers, according to law enforcement officials. If the officers had not proactively gone to the Hortman home after being alerted to the shooting at the Hoffmans' house, 'I have every confidence that this would have continued throughout the day,' said Mr. Evans. Julie Blaha, a former teacher who is the state auditor of Minnesota, told The Times over the weekend that she had taught seventh-grade math to Hope, who was born with spina bifida, a congenital condition affecting the spine that can cause a range of complications. Ms. Blaha noted that Ms. Hoffman and her husband tried to ensure that their daughter had what she needed to succeed during her childhood. Hope, now an adult, has been an advocate for people with disabilities, Ms. Blaha said. On Sunday, Mr. Walz said that Mr. Hoffman had come out of his final surgery and 'was moving toward recovery.' He said that his wife, Yvette, was 'healing.' Mr. Hoffman was shot nine times and Ms. Hoffman was shot eight times, according to a social media post Sunday by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who said she received an encouraging update from the family. The Hoffman family issued a statement just before midnight local time Sunday, expressing gratitude to law enforcement and the public. 'John and I are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We continue our healing journey and are humbled by the outpouring of love and support our family has received from across the state and our nation,' the statement said. 'There is never a place for senseless political violence and loss of life. We are devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark, and our hearts go out to all those who knew and loved them both. We are always at our best when we unite together.'
New York Times
16-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Live Updates: Man Charged in Minnesota Assassination Could Face Federal Death Penalty
Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota praised Hope Hoffman, the daughter of State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, saying her actions at the family home after a gunman wounded her parents were 'heroic' and saved countless lives. The suspected gunman, Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested on Sunday after a two-day manhunt, the largest in state history. Officials said the suspect entered the Hoffmans' home in suburban Minneapolis early Saturday by posing as a police officer. Hope Hoffman called 911, according to charging documents, prompting a law enforcement alert that led officers to also check the home of State Representative Melissa Hortman nearby. On arrival at the Hortmans' house, officers exchanged gunfire with the gunman before he escaped. Ms. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in that attack. 'I'd like to say on behalf of the state of Minnesota, the heroic actions by the Hoffman family and their daughter, Hope, saved countless lives, and we are grateful,' Mr. Tim Walz said at a news conference late Sunday to announce the arrest of Mr. Boelter. Mr. Walz did not elaborate on the Hoffmans' actions. The couple's nephew, Mat Ollig, wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday that has since been deleted that Mr. Hoffman's wife, Yvette, 'threw herself onto her daughter, using her body as a shield to save her life.' Drew Evans, the head of the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said investigators had talked with the Hoffmans on Sunday but provided no new details about the events at their home. Mr. Boelter, who was charged late Sunday evening with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, possessed a notebook that mentioned about 70 potential targets, including politicians, civic and business leaders, as well as Planned Parenthood centers, according to law enforcement officials. If the officers had not proactively gone to the Hortman home after being alerted to the shooting at the Hoffmans' house, 'I have every confidence that this would have continued throughout the day,' said Mr. Evans. Julie Blaha, a former teacher who is the state auditor of Minnesota, told The Times over the weekend that she had taught seventh-grade math to Hope, who was born with spina bifida, a congenital condition affecting the spine that can cause a range of complications. Ms. Blaha noted that Ms. Hoffman and her husband tried to ensure that their daughter had what she needed to succeed during her childhood. Hope, now an adult, has been an advocate for people with disabilities, Ms. Blaha said. On Sunday, Mr. Walz said that Mr. Hoffman had come out of his final surgery and 'was moving toward recovery.' He said that his wife, Yvette, was 'healing.' Mr. Hoffman was shot nine times and Ms. Hoffman was shot eight times, according to a social media post Sunday by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who said she received an encouraging update from the family. The Hoffman family issued a statement just before midnight local time Sunday, expressing gratitude to law enforcement and the public. 'John and I are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We continue our healing journey and are humbled by the outpouring of love and support our family has received from across the state and our nation,' the statement said. 'There is never a place for senseless political violence and loss of life. We are devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark, and our hearts go out to all those who knew and loved them both. We are always at our best when we unite together.'
New York Times
16-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Minnesota Governor Praises Hoffman Family for ‘Heroic Actions'
Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota praised Hope Hoffman, the daughter of State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, saying her actions at the family home after a gunman wounded her parents were 'heroic' and saved countless lives. The suspected gunman, Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested on Sunday after a two-day manhunt, the largest in state history. Officials said the suspect entered the Hoffmans' home in suburban Minneapolis early Saturday by posing as a police officer. Hope Hoffman called 911, according to charging documents, prompting a law enforcement alert that led officers to also check the home of State Representative Melissa Hortman nearby. On arrival at the Hortmans' house, officers exchanged gunfire with the gunman before he escaped. Ms. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in that attack. 'I'd like to say on behalf of the state of Minnesota, the heroic actions by the Hoffman family and their daughter, Hope, saved countless lives, and we are grateful,' Mr. Tim Walz said at a news conference late Sunday to announce the arrest of Mr. Boelter. Mr. Walz did not elaborate on the Hoffmans' actions. The couple's nephew, Mat Ollig, wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday that has since been deleted that Mr. Hoffman's wife, Yvette, 'threw herself onto her daughter, using her body as a shield to save her life.' Drew Evans, the head of the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said investigators had talked with the Hoffmans on Sunday but provided no new details about the events at their home. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
16-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Live Updates: Minnesota Man Is Charged With Murder of Lawmaker
Pinned Updated June 16, 2025, 5:57 a.m. ET Ernesto LondoñoJeff Ernst and The largest manhunt in Minnesota's history came to an end on Sunday when a man accused of assassinating a state lawmaker and shooting another was finally captured, after SWAT teams used drones to track him crawling through a wooded area outside Minneapolis. The suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested and charged, concluding an extensive two-day search that rattled Minnesotans. Mr. Boelter surrendered near Green Isle, Minn., a town where he had a home with his wife and children. The police said they searched the area after a resident spotted the suspect on a trail camera. Mr. Boelter was charged late Sunday evening with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder. New details emerged about the attacks against the lawmakers at their homes in the Minneapolis suburbs on Saturday. One shooting killed Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark; the other wounded State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Mr. Boelter entered the Hoffman home by introducing himself as a police officer, and he wore a rubber mask and a bogus badge during the attacks, officials say. The couple's daughter called 911, police officers decided to check Ms. Hortman's home. They arrived to see Mr. Boelter shoot her husband through an open door, and exchanged gunfire with him before he escaped. If the officers had not proactively gone to the Hortman home, 'I have every confidence that this would have continued throughout the day,' said Drew Evans, the head of the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Here's what else to know: Next steps: Mr. Boelter is being charged under a state criminal warrant, and state officials are discussing with the F.B.I. and federal prosecutors about whether to also bring federal charges, an official from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension told reporters late Sunday. Investigators are also looking into whether anyone assisted him. The victims: Ms. Hortman served as speaker of the Minnesota House for a six-year period that ended this year and helped pass several key policies on abortion rights, marijuana legalization and medical leave. Mr. Hoffman is a fourth-term state senator and leads the Senate's Human Services Committee. Mr. Hoffman came out of a final surgery and was recovering along with his wife, who was also shot, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota said Sunday. Read more › The suspect: Mr. Boelter and his wife run a private security company that promotes the use of S.U.V.s similar to those used by police departments, according to its website. The couple also appears to have run a religious nonprofit. According to the suspect's friend, he opposed abortion and had served on a state work force development board with Mr. Hoffman. Read more › The list: The suspect possessed a notebook that mentioned about 70 potential targets, some in neighboring states, that included politicians, civic and business leaders, and Planned Parenthood centers, according to law enforcement officials. Read more › Show more
