Latest news with #politicalassassination
New York Times
19-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Vance Boelter's Life Before the Minnesota Shootings
The sudden change in the teenager was dramatic and unsettling, as if some internal switch had been thrown. Those who knew him could only wonder: What's come over Vance Boelter? One moment he was an affable college freshman, pursuing a family passion by trying out for the baseball team. The next, he was giving up the game and shedding his belongings — even his cherished baseball bat — as if to put away childish things. Suddenly, he was telling dorm mates they were going to hell, denouncing a guest speaker on campus as 'Satan's worker' and announcing he was now 'all in for Jesus.' It was a lifelong commitment he would just as suddenly violate 40 years later, prosecutors say, with an act of political assassination that would stun the nation and send his home state of Minnesota into communal mourning. Throughout his life, Mr. Boelter's Christian belief in the sanctity of life seemed unwavering. He told a church congregation in 2021 that all the world's wealth was 'not worth the value of the person on your left, or the person on your right, or the person you see going home today.' But his worldview darkened as his fortunes declined. He moved from state to state, job to job. He went from overseeing large food-service operations to collecting bodies for funeral homes, struggling at the same time to pair his spiritual and business interests while his wife home-schooled their five children. He began following a far-right website that trafficked in conspiracy theories about stolen elections and evil Democrats. He became distant. In the first dark hours of June 14, prosecutors say, the pious Mr. Boelter, 57, set out to commit a crime that would break a commandment. He drove off in a black S.U.V. outfitted to resemble a police cruiser with several firearms and the names and addresses of intended targets. Less than two hours later, a Democratic legislator and her husband were dead, and another Democratic lawmaker and his wife had been critically wounded. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Fox News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Federal grand jury indicts suspect accused of targeting Minnesota lawmakers in deadly shooting spree
A federal grand jury has formally indicted Vance Boelter on six federal charges for the shootings that left one Minnesota lawmaker and her husband dead and a second lawmaker and his wife injured. "Vance Boelter planned and carried out a night of terror that shook Minnesota to its core," acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said in a statement. "He carried out targeted political assassinations the likes of which have never been seen in Minnesota." Boelter, 57, has been charged with stalking and murdering former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their home in Minneapolis last month. He also is charged with stalking and shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, and for attempting to shoot their daughter, Hope, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota. Boelter, who allegedly conducted extensive research prior to the attacks, could potentially face life in prison or the death penalty. Authorities allege Boelter impersonated a member of law enforcement on June 14 and then went to the homes of the Democratic elected officials with the intention of murdering them. Boelter first went to the home of the Hoffmans in Champlin, Minnesota, where he allegedly shot Senator Hoffman and his wife repeatedly. Prosecutors say he also attempted to shoot their daughter, Hope, according to the news release. After that, he allegedly drove to the homes of two other elected officials but discovered no one was home. Boelter then allegedly went to the home of Melissa Hortman and her husband, where he is accused of repeatedly shooting and killing them. The shootings sparked a two-day manhunt, ending with Boelter's capture in nearby Sibley County. "I feel relief today in knowing that the perpetrator of these heinous acts will be charged to the fullest extent of the law," Hope Hoffman said in a statement. "Though I was not shot physically, I will now forever coexist with the PTSD of watching my parents be nearly shot dead in front of me and seeing my life flash before my eyes with a gun in my face." The indictment comes shortly after Boelter spoke out about the alleged killings in a jailhouse interview, looking to eliminate certain theories surrounding the motivations behind the attacks. "You are fishing and I can't talk about my case," Vance Boelter wrote to the New York Post from the Sherburne County Jail last week. "I'll say it didn't involve either the Trump stuff or pro-life." "I am pro-life personaly [sic] but it wasn't those," he reportedly said in a message sent from the jail's internal messaging system. "I will just say there is a lot of information that will come out in future that people will look at and judge for themselves that goes back 24 months before the 14th. If the gov ever let's [sic] it get out." The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
New evidence revealed as grand jury indicts Vance Boelter over murder of Minnesota politician and her husband
Prosecutors have revealed new details surrounding a man's motives to allegedly kill a prominent Minnesota state representative and her husband, and seriously wound a state senator and his wife, while he was allegedly disguised as a police officer. The new information comes after a US federal grand jury indicted Vance Boelter on charges that he fatally shot former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Investigators say they have found a handwritten letter by Mr Boelter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel in which he confessed to the shootings and made bizarre claims. The indictment handed up lists murder, stalking and firearms charges against Mr Boelter. The murder counts in the two deaths could carry the federal death penalty. "This political assassination, the likes of which have never occurred here in the state of Minnesota, has shook our state at a foundational level," acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson said. He said a decision on whether to seek the death penalty "will not come for several months" and will be up to US Attorney-General Pam Bondi. Mr Boelter's federal defender, Manny Atwal, did not comment on the indictment and the new allegations. Mr Boelter has not entered a plea, which was not required until the indictment was handed up. "In the letter, Vance Boelter claims that he had been trained by the US military off the books and he had conducted missions on behalf of the US military in Asia, the Middle East and Africa," Mr Thompson said. Mr Boelter also said in the letter that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had approached him about killing the state's two US senators, fellow Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Asked by a reporter if all that was a fantasy, Mr Thompson replied: "Yes, I agree." "What he left were lists: politicians in Minnesota, lists of politicians in other states, lists of names of attorneys at national law firms." Friends have described Mr Boelter as an evangelical Christian with politically conservative views who had been struggling to find work. At a hearing on July 3, Mr Boelter said he was "looking forward to the facts about the 14th coming out". In an interview published by the New York Post on Saturday, Mr Boelter insisted the shootings had nothing to do with his opposition to abortion or his support for Donald Trump, but he declined to discuss why he allegedly killed the Hortmans and wounded the Hoffmans. "You are fishing and I can't talk about my case…I'll say it didn't involve either the Trump stuff or pro life," Mr Boelter wrote in a message to the newspaper via the jail's messaging system. Prosecutors say Mr Boelter was driving a fake squad car, wearing a realistic rubber mask that covered his head and wearing tactical gear on the night in question. At around 2am on June 14, he went to the home of Senator John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, in the Minneapolis suburb of Champlin. He allegedly shot the senator nine times and Yvette Hoffman eight times, but they survived. Prosecutors allege he then stopped at the homes of two other politicians. One, in Maple Grove, was not home, while a police officer may have scared him off from the second, in New Hope. Mr Boelter then allegedly went to the Hortmans' home in nearby Brooklyn Park and killed both of them. Their dog was so gravely injured that he had to be euthanased. Brooklyn Park police, who had been alerted to the shootings of the Hoffmans, arrived at the Hortman home around 3:30am, moments before the gunman opened fire on the couple, the complaint said. Mr Boelter allegedly fled and left behind his car, which contained notebooks listing dozens of Democratic officials as potential targets with their home addresses, as well as five guns and a large quantity of ammunition. Law enforcement officers finally captured Mr Boelter about 40 hours later, about 1.6 kilometres from his rural home in Green Isle, after what authorities called the largest search for a suspect in Minnesota history. AP
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Federal grand jury indicts man accused of killing Minnesota lawmaker
A man has been indicted on charges of murdering a prominent Minnesota state representative and her husband and seriously wounding a state senator and his wife. Vance Boelter, who is accused of shooting dead Democrat Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, while disguised as a police officer, was indicted by a federal grand jury. He could face the death penalty if convicted. Boelter, 57, is also accused of shooting and seriously wounding the Democratic state senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, about 90 minutes earlier. 'This political assassination, the likes of which have never occurred here in the state of Minnesota, has shook our state at a foundational level,' acting US attorney Joseph Thompson said. He said a decision on whether to seek the death penalty 'will not come for several months' and will be up to the US attorney general, Pam Bondi. Minnesota abolished its state death penalty in 1911, but Donald Trump's administration says it intends to be aggressive in seeking capital punishment for eligible federal crimes. Thompson said investigators had also found a handwritten letter addressed to the FBI director, Kash Patel, in which Boelter confessed to the shootings and made bizarre claims. 'In the letter, Vance Boelter claims that he had been trained by the US military off the books and he had conducted missions on behalf of the US military in Asia, the Middle East and Africa,' Thompson said. Boelter also said Minnesota's governor, Tim Walz, had approached him about killing the state's two US senators, fellow Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Asked by a reporter if all that was a fantasy, Thompson replied: 'Yes, I agree.' 'There is little evidence showing why he turned to political violence and extremism,' Thompson said. 'What he left were lists: politicians in Minnesota, lists of politicians in other states, lists of names of attorneys at national law firms.' Friends have described Boelter as an evangelical Christian with politically conservative views who had been struggling to find work. In an interview published by the New York Post on Saturday, Boelter insisted the shootings had nothing to do with his opposition to abortion or his support for Trump, but he declined to discuss why he allegedly killed the Hortmans and wounded the Hoffmans. Boelter also faces state murder and attempted murder charges in Hennepin county, but the federal case will happen first. Senator Hoffman is out of hospital and in recovery, his family announced last week. Yvette Hoffman was released a few days after the attack.
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Federal grand jury indicts man accused of killing Minnesota lawmaker
A man has been indicted on charges of murdering a prominent Minnesota state representative and her husband and seriously wounding a state senator and his wife. Vance Boelter, who is accused of shooting dead Democrat Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, while disguised as a police officer, was indicted by a federal grand jury. He could face the death penalty if convicted. Boelter, 57, is also accused of shooting and seriously wounding the Democratic state senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, about 90 minutes earlier. 'This political assassination, the likes of which have never occurred here in the state of Minnesota, has shook our state at a foundational level,' acting US attorney Joseph Thompson said. He said a decision on whether to seek the death penalty 'will not come for several months' and will be up to US attorney general Pam Bondi. Minnesota abolished its state death penalty in 1911, but Donald Trump's administration says it intends to be aggressive in seeking capital punishment for eligible federal crimes. Thompson said investigators had also found a handwritten letter addressed to FBI director Kash Patel in which Boelter confessed to the shootings and made bizarre claims. 'In the letter, Vance Boelter claims that he had been trained by the US military off the books and he had conducted missions on behalf of the US military in Asia, the Middle East and Africa,' Thompson said. Boelter also said Minnesota governor Tim Walz had approached him about killing the state's two US senators, fellow Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Asked by a reporter if all that was a fantasy, Thompson replied: 'Yes, I agree.' 'There is little evidence showing why he turned to political violence and extremism,' Thompson said. 'What he left were lists: politicians in Minnesota, lists of politicians in other states, lists of names of attorneys at national law firms.' Friends have described Boelter as an evangelical Christian with politically conservative views who had been struggling to find work. In an interview published by the New York Post on Saturday, Boelter insisted the shootings had nothing to do with his opposition to abortion or his support for Trump, but he declined to discuss why he allegedly killed the Hortmans and wounded the Hoffmans. Boelter also faces state murder and attempted murder charges in Hennepin county, but the federal case will happen first. Senator Hoffman is out of hospital and in recovery, his family announced last week. Yvette Hoffman was released a few days after the attack.
