The man accused of killing one Minnesota lawmaker and injuring another in what prosecutors described as a meticulously planned attack had dozens of apparent targets, including officials from at least three other states.
Vance Boelter allegedly made it to the homes of two other legislators on the night of the attacks, but one was on vacation, and the suspect fled the other house after police arrived, acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said on Monday.
Thompson stated that all of the politicians named in his writing were Democrats, including more than 45 state and federal officials from Minnesota. Elected officials in Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin claimed they, too, were mentioned in his writings.
Investigators say Boelter appeared to have spent months planning the shootings, which are the latest in a string of political attacks across the United States.
In Minnesota, Boelter conducted surveillance missions, took notes on the homes and people he targeted, and disguised himself as a police officer just before the shootings, according to Thompson.
“It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares,” he told me.
Boelter surrendered to police on Sunday night after they discovered him in the woods near his home following a two-day search. He is accused of fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their northern Minneapolis suburbs home early Saturday.
Authorities say he also shot and wounded Democratic Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who lived a few miles away.
Federal prosecutors charged Boelter, 57, with murder and stalking, which could result in the death penalty if convicted. He already faces state charges of murder and attempted murder. At a federal court hearing in St. Paul on Monday, Boelter stated that he could not afford an attorney. A federal public defender was appointed to represent him, and he was held without bail until his court appearance next week.
Manny Atwal, his lead attorney, declined to comment, saying the office had just received the case.
Notebooks demonstrate careful planning.
Thompson said Boelter had many notebooks full of plans. According to court records, one notebook contained a list of internet-based people search engines, emphasizing the premeditation of the attacks, as claimed by law enforcement officials.
However, authorities have not discovered any writings that “clearly identify what motivated him,” Thompson said. He also said it was too early to speculate on any political ideology.
Democratic Rep. Esther Agbaje, whose district includes parts of Minneapolis, said she stayed with friends and family over the weekend after learning her name was on the list of targets.
In texts, the suspect said he ‘went to war’.
Authorities declined to reveal the identities of the other two lawmakers whose homes were targeted but escaped harm. Democratic Senator Ann Rest said she was told the suspect had parked near her house early Saturday. She claimed in a statement that law enforcement officers’ “quick action” saved her life.
Boelter texted a family group chat after the shootings, saying, “Dad went to war last night… “I don’t want to say anything else because I don’t want to implicate anyone,” according to an FBI affidavit.
His wife received another text that read: “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,” according to the affidavit.
Police later discovered his wife in a car with her children. Officers discovered two handguns, approximately $10,000 in cash, and passports for the wife and her children, according to the affidavit.
According to the federal affidavit, Boelter purchased an electric bike and a Buick sedan from someone he met at a Minneapolis bus stop just hours after the shootings occurred on Saturday. Police discovered the sedan abandoned on a highway on Sunday morning.
Officers discovered a cowboy hat Boelter had worn in surveillance footage, as well as a letter addressed to the FBI, authorities said. The letter was signed “Dr. Vance Luther Boulter” and stated that he was “the shooter at large.”
The car was discovered in rural Sibley County, where Boelter had a home.
coordinated attacks on legislators.
The Hoffmans were first attacked in their Champlin home. Their adult daughter called 911 to report that a masked person had come to the door and shot her parents.
Thompson said Boelter arrived with a flashlight and a 9 mm handgun, dressed in a black tactical vest and a “hyper-realistic” silicone mask.
He first knocked and shouted, “This is the police.” When the Hoffmans realized he was wearing a mask, Boelter informed them, “This is a robbery.” Sen. Hoffman attempted to push Boelter out the door, and Boelter shot him repeatedly before shooting his wife, according to the prosecutor.
According to a statement released by Yvette Hoffman on Sunday, her husband underwent several surgeries after being shot nine times.
According to the complaint, officers arrived just in time to see Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the home’s open door. They exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who ran into the house before fleeing, according to the complaint. Melissa Hortman was discovered dead inside, according to the documents. Their dog was also shot and euthanized.
The search for motive continues.
Writings recovered from the fake police vehicle included the names of lawmakers and community leaders, as well as abortion rights advocates and information about health care facilities, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Reference: Minnesota shooting suspect had dozens of potential targets, prosecutors say