Federal authorities have revealed terrifying new details in the case of Vance Boelter, the 57-year-old man accused of assassinating Minnesota Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark over the weekend. According to investigators, Boelter wasn’t acting randomly—he had mapped out a horrifying plan that included visiting the homes of multiple other lawmakers across the state.
Boelter was captured on Sunday night after a massive two-day manhunt—one of the largest in Minnesota’s history. He now faces both state and federal charges, including murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors say he disguised himself as a police officer during his deadly spree, wearing a silicone mask and tactical gear while driving an SUV outfitted with fake police lights and a badge.
Boelter fatally shot the Hortmans in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday morning. Before that, he had already ambushed Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who miraculously survived despite being shot multiple times.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
Federal prosecutors say Boelter visited the homes of at least two more Minnesota lawmakers, also believed to be Democrats, in the early hours of Saturday morning. One was not home; the other encounter narrowly missed becoming another tragedy after a responding officer mistook Boelter for a colleague.
When police searched his SUV, they discovered a disturbing arsenal: three AK-47 rifles, a handgun, a fake police badge, and a handwritten list of targets—over 45 elected officials, mostly Democrats, plus abortion rights advocates. One notebook even contained surveillance notes on the Hortman residence, describing entry points and mentioning that the couple had children.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson described the attack as “a political assassination that strikes at the very core of our democracy.” While the precise motive remains unclear, authorities confirmed there was no manifesto found despite rumors.
In a text message sent to his wife and children after the shootings, Boelter chillingly wrote, “Dad went to war last night… I don’t want to implicate anyone.” Another message warned the family to leave before “armed and trigger-happy” people arrived. His wife later consented to a search of her car, where police found two handguns, $10,000 in cash, and passports for the family.
Boelter attempted to flee using a stranger’s car, but his location was eventually traced to rural Sibley County. Inside the vehicle, police found a handwritten confession addressed to the FBI. He was finally apprehended in a field after emerging from the woods armed but peacefully surrendering.
The tragic event adds to a string of politically motivated violence across the U.S., including an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump last year and a recent arson attack at the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Senator Amy Klobuchar shared a message from Yvette Hoffman, who confirmed she and her husband were each shot multiple times but survived. “We are incredibly lucky to be alive,” Yvette wrote. “We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark.”
