Federal prosecutors have filed sweeping new charges against 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, accusing him of launching a coordinated, premeditated attack against elected Minnesota officials.
The charges, which include two counts of interstate stalking resulting in death, two counts of murder through use of a firearm, and two additional firearms-related offenses, were filed in U.S. District Court for Minnesota.
The new complaint describes Boelter’s June 14 actions as part of a carefully planned “campaign of stalking and violence,” targeting state and federal officials—most of them Democrats. He used online people-search engines to compile a handwritten list of names and home addresses, and drove to at least four homes that night while disguised as a police officer. Officials say Boelter’s notebooks and the GPS unit in his SUV contained addresses for dozens of lawmakers and abortion rights advocates, including Rep. Melissa Hortman, Sen. John Hoffman, and at least two additional officials.
Rifles, gear, ammo inside abandoned SUV in Brooklyn Park.
The attack began around 2 a.m. when Boelter arrived at the Champlin home of Senator John Hoffman. Surveillance footage captured him wearing a black tactical vest and mask, impersonating law enforcement as he knocked and said, “This is the police. Open the door.” When Hoffman answered, Boelter claimed there had been a shooting in the area and asked if the Hoffmans had firearms. When the couple became suspicious and tried to shut the door, Boelter opened fire. Senator Hoffman was shot nine times. His wife Yvette was shot eight times while trying to close the door on Boelter. Both survived the initial attack and remain hospitalized.
Fake “POLICE” license plate recovered from Boelter’s SUV.
Boelter then drove to the Maple Grove home of another elected official. Video shows him arriving at 2:24 a.m., wearing tactical gear and ringing the doorbell repeatedly while saying, “This is the police. We have a warrant.” No one was home, and Boelter left.
Roughly 10 minutes later, a New Hope officer performing a welfare check for another elected official encountered a black SUV parked near the official’s home. The officer believed the SUV, outfitted with flashing lights and a “POLICE” plate, was a legitimate law enforcement vehicle providing security. The driver—a bald white male, now believed to have been Boelter—stared straight ahead and did not respond when spoken to. The officer moved on to complete the check. When backup arrived minutes later, the SUV had left the area.
By 3:30 a.m., Brooklyn Park officers, already aware of the earlier attacks, arrived at Rep. Hortman’s home for a precautionary check. They saw a Ford Explorer SUV parked out front with flashing lights. Boelter, dressed in dark clothing, was seen standing at the door. Within seconds, he opened fire and entered the house. Officers later found both Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark shot multiple times. Their family dog was also gravely wounded. Both victims later died of their injuries.
Federal prosecutors have now charged Boelter with two counts of interstate stalking resulting in death or serious bodily injury, each carrying a potential life sentence; two counts of murder through the use of a firearm, making him eligible for the federal death penalty; and two counts of firearm use in furtherance of a violent crime involvinsg brandishing and discharging a firearm, which each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges may be filed. U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson has called the incident “an unprecedented political attack.” FBI Special Agent Alvin Winston said Boelter “deliberately lured public servants to their own doorstep and opened fire,” describing the actions as a direct assault on democracy.
Boelter made an initial court appearance in U.S. District Court on Monday. Details about that hearing are not yet available.
