Minnesota Lawmaker Shooting Suspect Had Plans to Kill Others, Officials Say

 June 17, 2025 – Authorities in Minnesota revealed yesterday, Monday, June 16th, that the man accused of killing one state lawmaker and wounding another had also targeted and visited the homes of at least two other state legislators with the intent to kill them, underscoring the premeditated and widespread nature of his alleged attacks.

Vance Boelter, 57, who was captured Sunday after a nearly two-day manhunt, now faces federal and state charges, including murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors stated that Boelter meticulously planned his attacks, conducting surveillance and researching his intended victims and their families.

According to federal and state officials, in the early hours of Saturday, June 14th, Boelter allegedly posed as a police officer, driving an SUV altered to look like a law enforcement vehicle, and visited the homes of four Minnesota state politicians "with the intent to kill them."

The rampage began at the home of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in Champlin, where he allegedly shot and wounded both of them. They are currently recovering from their injuries, with Sen. Hoffman reportedly undergoing multiple surgeries.

After leaving the Hoffmans' residence, Boelter then drove to the home of another unnamed state lawmaker in Maple Grove. However, that legislator was reportedly on vacation and not home at the time, thus narrowly escaping harm.

Authorities said he then proceeded to the home of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Local police, alerted by the shooting at the Hoffmans' home, were reportedly conducting a safety check at the Hortmans' residence when Boelter arrived. Officials allege he exchanged gunfire with police before entering the home and fatally shooting Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.

Federal prosecutors, including acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson, called the incident a "political assassination," a term rarely used in the United States, and described Boelter's alleged crimes as "the stuff of nightmares."

Investigators found "voluminous writings" in Boelter's vehicle and at his home, including a list of approximately 45-70 names of Minnesota state and federal elected officials, community leaders, and abortion-rights advocates. Some of these officials, including U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and U.S. Representatives Greg Landsman of Ohio, Hillary Scholten, and Debbie Dingell of Michigan, have since been notified by law enforcement that they were on Boelter's list of targets.

The motive behind the attacks remains unclear, though officials have stated they were politically motivated. Boelter was booked into Hennepin County Jail on Monday and appeared in federal court, where he was appointed a federal defender. He is facing state charges of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, with Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty stating her office plans to pursue first-degree murder charges. Federal charges include stalking and murder, which could carry a death sentence if he is convicted, though it's too early to say if prosecutors will seek it.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the political community across the country, prompting renewed calls for an end to political violence and a re-evaluation of security for public officials. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the shootings an "unspeakable tragedy" and an "act of targeted political violence," thanking law enforcement for their swift action in apprehending the suspect.