by Dennis Dalman
A widespread manhunt for a suspect accused of shooting two members of the Minnesota Legislature and their spouses and killing Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, ended late evening June 16 when the suspect was captured alive by law enforcement officials in a field less than two miles from his home in Green Isle, Minn. He is being held on $5 million bond at Hennepin County jail.
Earlier that weekend, a $50,000 FBI reward was posted for anyone who could reveal the whereabouts of the fugitive, Vance Luther Boelter, 57.
In the pre-dawn hours of June 14, Boelter allegedly shot Republican State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in their home in Champlin, severely injuring both of them. Hoffman was shot six times; his wife was shot five times. They remain in the hospital.
About an hour-and-a-half after that assault, Boelter allegedly arrived at the home of State Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman in nearby Brooklyn Park. There he shot her and her husband, Mark, multiple times and also shot and killed their dog. The couple’s daughter, Hope, was at home at the time but was fortunately not injured. Melissa died apparently instantly; Mark died later at a hospital.
Police learned of a crisis at the Hortman home and rushed there. The suspect had just left the home. As police confronted him, he fired off shots at them, they fired back, but the man ran back in the house, escaping through a back door and running off. Police, entering the home, discovered the horror and bloody mayhem he had perpetrated.
Police stated Boelter had disguised himself as a police officer during his alleged crimes, even including a vehicle that was fitted to look exactly like a police squad car, including flashing lights. It’s assumed he pretended to be a police officer to gain access to the two homes.
It’s reported police found a written “manifesto” in Boelter’s car that listed the names of other Democratic political leaders (including Gov. Walz, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and Minnesota Attorney Gen. Keith Ellison), as well as names of abortion-rights advocates. That manifesto, investigators believe, is possibly a “hit list” of other intended victims.
News of the deaths and injuries sent a shock wave throughout Minnesota and beyond.
Boelter
According to investigators, the following information was learned about Boelter.
He lives near Green Isle, a small town about an hour’s drive southwest of Minneapolis.
He is a 1996 graduate of St. Cloud State University with a degree in International Relations Studies who worked in the Minnesota food industry and then opened a security company in 2021. On his website, he states he is a security expert who has worked for global companies. Boelter was appointed to the 60-member Governor’s Workforce Development Board, first by former Gov. Mark Dayton, later – in 2019 – by current Gov. Tim Walz.
Several news sources described Boulter as a devout evangelical Christian who attended rallies for President Donald Trump. Boelter and his wife, Jenny, have five children.
Hortman
First elected in 2004, State Rep. Melissa Hortman, 55, had been Speaker of the House until January of this year. She represented northern areas of the Twin Cities.
During her tenure, she advocated for transportation, abortion rights, gun-safety measures, environmental issues, police reform, and she was the main author of bills to establish a solar-energy policy.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston University, a law degree from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School.
Early in her career, she worked as an intern for legislators Al Gore and John Kerry.
She was also a Girl Scout leader and a Sunday-school teacher. Her husband, Mark, worked as a program manager for an electrical manufacturing company. Their two grown children survive them.
Tributes have been pouring in from far and wide in praise of Rep. Hortman. For example, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a very good friend of hers, said that she was “a bright shining light of a human being.”
Hoffman
Sen. John Hoffman, 60, a Champlin resident was first elected in 2012 and represents parts of Anoka, Hennepin and Wright counties, including the cities of Champlin and Brooklyn Park. He served as minority whip from 2017-2021.
He currently chairs the Senate Human Services Committee. Before his election to the Minnesota Senate, Hoffman served on the Anoka-Hennepin School District Board.
As a senator, Hoffman is a strong supporter of education, health and human services, the environment and energy and commerce.
One of Hoffman’s special legislative passions is promoting legislation to help those with disabilities. It’s a cause close to his heart because he has a daughter who suffered from spina bifida and had to fight to find insurance that would cover her needs. He vowed to fight legislatively to ensure others with such needs and their families would not have the same struggles and anxieties.
Hoffman earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University.
He served as former chair of the Governor’s Disabilities Council. He and his wife, Yvette, are recuperating in the hospital following the brutal shooting attack against them June. 14.
He and his wife, Yvette, have one daughter, Hope.
The deceased State House Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) has been receiving glowing tributes from far and wide after she and her husband were murdered by a gunman at their home June 14.
Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) was severely injured by a gunman June 14. His wife, Yvette, was also shot. Both were shot multiple times and are now being cared for in a hospital. The same gunman killed Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, that same night.
Vance Luther Boelter is the man suspected in the shooting attack June 14 of two Minnesota legislators and their spouses. He was captured around 10:30 p.m. June 16 by law enforcement officials in a field close to his home in Green Isle.
