A 57-year-old man impersonating a police officer went to four Twin Cities legislators’ homes early Saturday, intending to kill them, the U.S. Attorney for Minnesota said Monday in announcing federal charges.
Vance Luther Boelter is accused of fatally shooting Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and wounding Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in another shooting in suburban Minneapolis. He didn’t come into contact with the two other legislators.
“This was a political assassination, which is not a word we use very often in the United States, let alone here in Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Joe Thompson. “… It’s only the most recent example of violent political extremism in this country.”
Jail booking photo of Vance Luther Boelter. (Courtesy of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office)
The allegations against Boelter are “truly chilling,” Thompson added. “It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares. Boelter stalked his victims like prey. He went to their homes, held himself out as a police officer and shot them in cold blood.”
After a nearly 48-hour search, involving a large number of SWAT teams, law enforcement took Boelter into custody Sunday night about a mile from his home in rural Sibley County, 45 miles southwest of the Twin Cities.
“This case became the largest coordinated manhunt in Minnesota’s history,” FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin Winston Sr. said Monday.
Matthew Deates, the federal public defender who represented Boelter at his first court appearance Monday afternoon, didn’t comment after the hearing at the federal courthouse in downtown St. Paul.
A federal criminal complaint, filed late Sunday and unsealed Monday, provides more information than authorities publicly released over the weekend, including:
Several notebooks “full of hand-written notes” were found in Boelter’s police look-alike vehicle. They included the names of more than 45 Minnesota state and federal elected officials, all Democrats. There were some abortion rights supporters on the list, Thompson said.
Boelter met a man, whom he didn’t know, at a Minneapolis bus stop after the shootings and paid him cash to buy his electronic bike and Buick, both of which he used to get around as law enforcement searched for him.
He sent a text message to his family early Saturday that said, “Dad went to war.”
Motivation remains under investigation
Boelter is federally charged with stalking both Hortman and Hoffman, with the murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman, and with firearms offenses for the shootings of the Hortmans and the Hoffmans. The murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty, though Thompson said it was too early to tell if prosecutors would seek the death penalty.
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“Boelter planned his attack carefully,” Thompson said. “He researched … his victims and their families. He used the internet and other tools to find their addresses. … He conducted surveillance of their homes and took notes about the location of their homes.”
Boelter appeared to have written down information at various times, “over the course of at least months,” Thompson said. The names were not a numerical list.
Boelter’s writings were “nothing like a Unabomber style manifesto,” Thompson said. “… I have not seen anything involving some sort of political screed or manifesto that would clearly identify what motivated him. … They were all elected officials. They were all Democrats. Beyond that, I think it’s just way too speculative … to say what was motivating him.”
Friends and former colleagues interviewed by reporters have described Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church, opposed abortion and supported President Donald Trump.
Thompson said Boelter also prepared for his attacks in other ways — by dressing as a police officer with a black tactical vest and body armor, wearing a “hyper-realistic silicone mask,” and outfitting his black sport-utility vehicle with emergency lights and putting “Police” on the license plate. He appeared to have used reflective letters, like what someone would use on a mailbox for their address.
Long employed in the food industry, Boelter and his wife had more recently formed a private security firm, according to state records and a company website.
The investigation continues, including into whether Boelter had anyone assisting him or fleeing, though “there’s nothing in the complaint suggesting that someone did,” Thompson said.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office also charged Boelter with murder and attempted murder over the weekend, and County Attorney Mary Moriarty said Monday that her office will seek first-degree murder charges against him.
Thompson said, based on prior cases, he expects the federal charges will be taken up first.
2:05 a.m.: Champlin shootings
The violence began in Champlin. The daughter of John and Yvette Hoffman called 911 to report her parents had been shot. Police responded at 2:05 a.m. Saturday.
Bullet holes mark the front door of the house of Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife who were shot earlier in the day, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Champlin, Minn. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
The home had a security camera. Thompson said he’s seen the footage and “it is chilling.”
Boelter knocked on the Hoffmans’ door and shouted repeatedly, “This is the police. Open the door,” the complaint said of what the footage showed.
One or both of the Hoffmans opened the door. Boelter said there had been a shooting reported inside the home, and asked whether the Hoffmans had any guns. John Hoffman said all their firearms were locked away.
Yvette Hoffman told law enforcement that Boelter had been shining a flashlight toward them, impairing their view of him, but she realized at some point he was wearing a mask. One or both of the Hoffmans told Boelter that he was not a real officer and he responded by saying something like, “This is a robbery.”
John Hoffman tried to push Boelter backward through the front door, at which point Boelter shot him repeatedly. Yvette Hoffman attempted to shut the door on Boelter, but he then shot her.
The couple was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds, and their conditions have stabilized.
2:24 a.m.: Went to Maple Grove legislator’s home
Boelter then went to the Maple Grove home of a state representative.
Video from the home showed Boelter repeatedly ringing the doorbell at 2:24 a.m. He wore the same mask, a black tactical vest and a badge. He carried a handgun and a flashlight and loudly said, “This is the police. Open the door. … We have a warrant,” the complaint said.
The legislator told law enforcement that she and her family were gone on vacation.
Thompson didn’t identify the two legislators who were not shot. The only state legislators who live in Maple Grove are Rep. Kristin Bahner, who is a DFLer, and Rep. Kristin Robbins, a Republican.
2:36 a.m.: Parked near New Hope legislator’s home
Democratic Sen. Ann Rest said Monday that she is the New Hope legislator whose home Boelter was spotted outside.
“I am so grateful for the heroic work of the New Hope Police Department and its officers,” Rest said in a statement. “Their quick action saved my life.”
Local law enforcement conducted a safety check at Rest’s house after learning of the shooting at the Hoffmans’ home.
When a police officer arrived at 2:36 a.m., she saw an SUV resembling a police vehicle parked down the street from Rest’s house and believed it was law enforcement protection for the senator.
The officer drove by the vehicle and saw what appeared to be a bald white man sitting in the driver’s seat staring straight ahead. The officer tried to talk to the man, now believed to be Boelter wearing the mask, but he did not respond.
The officer then drove to Rest’s house, “saw no signs of distress” and waited for more officers to join her, the complaint said. The SUV resembling a police vehicle left the area before backup arrived.
3:30 a.m.: Brooklyn Park shootings
A Brooklyn Park sergeant who was off duty was walking out of the police station, had heard about the shootings at Sen. Hoffman’s house, saw two officers and asked them to drive by Hortman’s house to check on it, said Brooklyn Park Chief Mark Bruley.
They arrived and saw a black SUV parked outside the Hortman home with police-style lights that were on and flashing.
Law enforcement footage showing the gunman outside the Hortman home, as shown in a federal indictment against Vance Luther Boelter filed on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office)
Officers spotted Boelter standing near the front door; he was again dressed to appear as though he was a police officer.
“When Boelter saw the officers get out of the car, he drew his weapon and began firing,” Thompson said. “He rushed into the house through the front door, firing into it. He repeatedly fired into the house, and when he entered, he murdered Rep. Hortman and her husband Mark.”
The Brooklyn Park officers fired at Boelter as he rushed into the home, but he escaped inside and then out the back. (After previously saying that Boelter had shot at the officers, authorities said Monday that is being further investigated.)
Police also found the Hortman family’s dog, gravely injured. The dog later died.
Boelter left his SUV in the driveway’s home.
“Had they not foiled the plan, … essentially took his vehicle away from him, which involved all his maps, all his names, all his weaponry, I would be very scared what it would look like over the next few hours ahead,” Bruley said.
Evidence in vehicle and area
A recovered face mask pictured in the federal indictment against Vance Luther Boeltner filed on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office)
In the abandonded vehicle, law enforcement found a bill for a storage unit with Boelter’s name. They also located the license plate for the SUV Boelter drove that night; the vehicle is registered to Boelter and his wife, Jenny.
There were five firearms in the vehicle, including semiautomatic, assault-style rifles and “a large quantity of ammunition organized into load magazines,” the complaint said. A medical kit containing wound-treatment supplies was in the vehicle.
The interior of Vance Luther Boelter’s abandoned SUV as shown in a federal indictment against him filed on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Courtesy of U.S. Attorney’s Office)
A GPS navigation system’s trip history included Hortman’s and Hoffman’s addresses, along with the public official in Maple Grove and the home addresses for at least two other state officials.
Also in the SUV were the notebooks with the names of public officials, including Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.
Officers found a 9-mm Beretta, along with body armor and the mask “along his path of flight,” Thompson said.
Boelter purchased the Beretta in January 2000. Records showed Boelter purchased three Beretta handguns, “as well as many other firearms,” the complaint said.
Text message: ‘Dad went to war’
A member of law enforcement searches for shooting suspect, Vance Boelter, at a house Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Belle Plaine, Minn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Law enforcement obtained information to track the locations of cellphones known to be used by Boelter and his wife. They used the information to locate Jenny Boelter. She agreed to let law enforcement search her phone.
At 6:18 a.m. Saturday, Jenny Boelter and other family members received a group text message from Vance Boelter that said: “Dad went to war last night … I don’t want to say more because I don’t wanna implicate anybody.” Boelter is a father of five.
Jenny Boelter also received a text message from her husband around the same time, saying: “Words are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation … there’s gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don’t want you guys around.”
Jenny Boelter allowed law enforcement to search her car; she had been stopped in Onamia, Minn., about 125 miles from her home.
Officers found about $10,000 in cash, passports for Jenny Boelter and her children who were in the car, and two handguns, the complaint said. Jenny Boelter was legally in possession of the guns, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
More notebooks at Minneapolis home
With cellphone location information for phones associated with Vance Boelter, law enforcement went to a Fremont Avenue home in North Minneapolis where Boelter lived part time. A housemate has said Boelter spent time there while doing work in the area.
Law enforcement carried out a search warrant and found a handwritten list of names, many of which were the same public officials named in the notebooks found in Boelter’s SUV.
There were additional notebooks in the home with names and home addresses. For Hortman, a notation read, “married Mark 2 children 11th term.” Another notation said, “Big house off golf course 2 ways in to watch from one spot,” the complaint said.
A receipt showed a flashlight, tactical rifle case and two types of ammunition were purchased June 9.
Bought an e-bike and car
At about 7 a.m. Saturday, Boelter met a man at a bus stop in Minneapolis who he had no previous connection with. Boelter asked to buy an electronic bike from the man, who agreed. They boarded a bus and went to the man’s residence, where Boelter also asked to purchase his Buick sedan.
Boelter and the man drove to a bank in Robbinsdale. Boelter withdrew $2,200, which emptied an account in his name. Cameras at the bank captured Boelter wearing a cowboy hat.
Boelter gave $900 to the man to buy his e-bike and Buick.
On Sunday about 2:30 a.m., law enforcement received information about a possible sighting of a person riding an e-bike about two miles from Boelter’s home in Green Isle, Minn., in Sibley County. Law enforcement wasn’t able to find Boelter at that time.
The Buick that Boelter bought was found abandoned close to the location of the e-bike sighting. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and found a handwritten letter directed to the FBI. The writer, who said his name was “Dr. Vance Luther Boelter,” said he was “the shooter at large in Minnesota involved in the 2 shootings the morning of Saturday June 15th,” according to the complaint. (Saturday was actually the 14th of the month.)
At about 9:10 p.m. Sunday, law enforcement found Boelter, armed, in a field in Green Isle, about one mile from his home, and took him into custody without incident.
Remains in federal custody
During Boelter’s brief hearing in federal court, Boelter said he couldn’t afford an attorney, prompting U.S. Magistrate Judge John Docherty to ask him standard financial questions to determine if he qualified for a public defender.
Boelter, who only spoke to answer questions, said he works part time and earns about $540 a week. He said he owns his home outright. He said he has seven vehicles registered in his name, some of which are his children’s. Boelter said he has $20,000 to $30,000 in savings.
Docherty said, given the seriousness of the charges, he doubted the financial resources that Boelter identified would be sufficient to pay an attorney and appointed a public defender.
Also during the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Endicott requested that Boelter remain in custody, which Docherty agreed to. Boelter is scheduled for a detention hearing on June 27.
The Jordan, Minn., church that Boelter attended issued a statement Sunday condemning the shootings as “the opposite of what Jesus taught his followers to do.”
“This incident has devastated our church family and does not reflect our values or beliefs,” the Jordan Family Church said on its website, adding it was cooperating with law enforcement.
Alex Derosier and the Associated Press contributed to this report.