Topline: The suspect wore a hyper-realistic silicone mask and tactical gear to impersonate a police officer during the deadly shootings.
Published: June 17, 2025 8:30 am ET
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Vance Boelter, left, in a photo dated June 2022. Right: Surveillance footage shows the suspect wearing a ballistic vest, tactical gear, and a hyper-realistic mask while impersonating a police officer outside a victim’s home early Saturday morning. (via FBI)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Minnesota man accused of carrying out a series of politically motivated shootings that killed a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband and wounded another lawmaker and his wife is in custody, ending a two-day manhunt that gripped the state.
The suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested late Sunday in rural Sibley County, near his home in Green Isle, Minnesota, according to the New York Times. Authorities said Boelter was armed at the time of his arrest but was taken into custody without incident.
The attacks, which federal prosecutors described as “political assassinations,” began early Saturday when Boelter allegedly disguised himself as a police officer — wearing a ballistic vest, tactical gear, and a hyper-realistic silicone mask — and drove to the homes of several elected officials in the Minneapolis suburbs, according to court documents and officials.
According to acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson, Boelter first arrived at the Champlin home of State Senator John Hoffman around 2 a.m. Saturday. Security footage reviewed by investigators shows Boelter arriving in a black SUV with flashing emergency lights and a “police” license plate.
Boelter knocked on the door, shined a flashlight into the faces of Hoffman and his wife Yvette, and announced himself as an officer responding to a report of a shooting. When the couple expressed doubt about his identity and yelled, “You’re not a cop,” Boelter allegedly forced his way inside, declared it was a robbery, and opened fire, wounding both.
Their daughter called 911. Officers later rushed to check on other area lawmakers.
At around 2:24 a.m., Boelter drove to a second lawmaker’s home in Maple Grove, but that family was out of town. Minutes later, he was spotted near the New Hope residence of State Senator Ann Rest.
A local officer mistook Boelter for another responding officer but grew suspicious and waited for backup. Rest later credited police with saving her life, saying in a statement, “Their quick action saved my life.”
The most devastating attack occurred shortly after, at the Brooklyn Park home of State Representative Melissa Hortman, the former Speaker of the Minnesota House. According to Thompson, officers arrived to find Boelter’s SUV parked outside with lights flashing and Boelter standing near the door.
As officers approached, Boelter allegedly opened fire and rushed inside. He fatally shot Hortman and her husband Mark before escaping out the back of the home under gunfire from police, officials said.
Authorities recovered a notebook from Boelter’s vehicle containing a list of about 45 elected officials, mostly Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz, Senator Tina Smith, and Representative Ilhan Omar, according to ABC News.
The list also referenced Planned Parenthood locations and other institutions. According to court documents, Boelter had scouted the homes of lawmakers in advance and wrote detailed notes, including one entry next to Hortman’s name: “Big house off golf course, 2 ways in to watch from one spot.”
Searches of property linked to Boelter revealed two handguns, around $10,000 in cash, and passports belonging to his wife and her children. Hours after the shootings, Boelter allegedly texted relatives, writing, “Dad went to war last night … I don’t wanna say more because I don’t want to implicate anybody.”
Boelter, who has five children and a background in the food industry and mortuary transport work, had recently left conventional employment. He had previously served on a state economic board with Senator Hoffman, though it’s unclear whether they had personal contact.
Boelter is facing both federal and state charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, stalking, and firearms violations. In his initial court appearance Monday, Boelter requested a public defender and reported having $20,000 to $30,000 in his bank account. His next hearing is scheduled for June 27.
A motive has not been confirmed, but investigators are continuing to review Boelter’s communications, movements, and potential affiliations. The FBI, ATF, and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are assisting in the investigation.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Gunman Impersonated Police in Deadly Attack on Minnesota Lawmakers
The suspect wore a hyper-realistic silicone mask and tactical gear to impersonate a police officer during the deadly shootings.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 17, 2025 8:30 am ET
Vance Boelter, left, in a photo dated June 2022. Right: Surveillance footage shows the suspect wearing a ballistic vest, tactical gear, and a hyper-realistic mask while impersonating a police officer outside a victim’s home early Saturday morning. (via FBI)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Minnesota man accused of carrying out a series of politically motivated shootings that killed a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband and wounded another lawmaker and his wife is in custody, ending a two-day manhunt that gripped the state.
The suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested late Sunday in rural Sibley County, near his home in Green Isle, Minnesota, according to the New York Times. Authorities said Boelter was armed at the time of his arrest but was taken into custody without incident.
The attacks, which federal prosecutors described as “political assassinations,” began early Saturday when Boelter allegedly disguised himself as a police officer — wearing a ballistic vest, tactical gear, and a hyper-realistic silicone mask — and drove to the homes of several elected officials in the Minneapolis suburbs, according to court documents and officials.
According to acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson, Boelter first arrived at the Champlin home of State Senator John Hoffman around 2 a.m. Saturday. Security footage reviewed by investigators shows Boelter arriving in a black SUV with flashing emergency lights and a “police” license plate.
Boelter knocked on the door, shined a flashlight into the faces of Hoffman and his wife Yvette, and announced himself as an officer responding to a report of a shooting. When the couple expressed doubt about his identity and yelled, “You’re not a cop,” Boelter allegedly forced his way inside, declared it was a robbery, and opened fire, wounding both.
Their daughter called 911. Officers later rushed to check on other area lawmakers.
At around 2:24 a.m., Boelter drove to a second lawmaker’s home in Maple Grove, but that family was out of town. Minutes later, he was spotted near the New Hope residence of State Senator Ann Rest.
A local officer mistook Boelter for another responding officer but grew suspicious and waited for backup. Rest later credited police with saving her life, saying in a statement, “Their quick action saved my life.”
The most devastating attack occurred shortly after, at the Brooklyn Park home of State Representative Melissa Hortman, the former Speaker of the Minnesota House. According to Thompson, officers arrived to find Boelter’s SUV parked outside with lights flashing and Boelter standing near the door.
As officers approached, Boelter allegedly opened fire and rushed inside. He fatally shot Hortman and her husband Mark before escaping out the back of the home under gunfire from police, officials said.
Authorities recovered a notebook from Boelter’s vehicle containing a list of about 45 elected officials, mostly Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz, Senator Tina Smith, and Representative Ilhan Omar, according to ABC News.
The list also referenced Planned Parenthood locations and other institutions. According to court documents, Boelter had scouted the homes of lawmakers in advance and wrote detailed notes, including one entry next to Hortman’s name: “Big house off golf course, 2 ways in to watch from one spot.”
Searches of property linked to Boelter revealed two handguns, around $10,000 in cash, and passports belonging to his wife and her children. Hours after the shootings, Boelter allegedly texted relatives, writing, “Dad went to war last night … I don’t wanna say more because I don’t want to implicate anybody.”
Boelter, who has five children and a background in the food industry and mortuary transport work, had recently left conventional employment. He had previously served on a state economic board with Senator Hoffman, though it’s unclear whether they had personal contact.
Boelter is facing both federal and state charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, stalking, and firearms violations. In his initial court appearance Monday, Boelter requested a public defender and reported having $20,000 to $30,000 in his bank account. His next hearing is scheduled for June 27.
A motive has not been confirmed, but investigators are continuing to review Boelter’s communications, movements, and potential affiliations. The FBI, ATF, and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are assisting in the investigation.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Gunman Impersonated Police in Deadly Attack on Minnesota Lawmakers
The suspect wore a hyper-realistic silicone mask and tactical gear to impersonate a police officer during the deadly shootings.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 17, 2025 8:30 am ET
Vance Boelter, left, in a photo dated June 2022. Right: Surveillance footage shows the suspect wearing a ballistic vest, tactical gear, and a hyper-realistic mask while impersonating a police officer outside a victim’s home early Saturday morning. (via FBI)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Minnesota man accused of carrying out a series of politically motivated shootings that killed a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband and wounded another lawmaker and his wife is in custody, ending a two-day manhunt that gripped the state.
The suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested late Sunday in rural Sibley County, near his home in Green Isle, Minnesota, according to the New York Times. Authorities said Boelter was armed at the time of his arrest but was taken into custody without incident.
The attacks, which federal prosecutors described as “political assassinations,” began early Saturday when Boelter allegedly disguised himself as a police officer — wearing a ballistic vest, tactical gear, and a hyper-realistic silicone mask — and drove to the homes of several elected officials in the Minneapolis suburbs, according to court documents and officials.
According to acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson, Boelter first arrived at the Champlin home of State Senator John Hoffman around 2 a.m. Saturday. Security footage reviewed by investigators shows Boelter arriving in a black SUV with flashing emergency lights and a “police” license plate.
Boelter knocked on the door, shined a flashlight into the faces of Hoffman and his wife Yvette, and announced himself as an officer responding to a report of a shooting. When the couple expressed doubt about his identity and yelled, “You’re not a cop,” Boelter allegedly forced his way inside, declared it was a robbery, and opened fire, wounding both.
Their daughter called 911. Officers later rushed to check on other area lawmakers.
At around 2:24 a.m., Boelter drove to a second lawmaker’s home in Maple Grove, but that family was out of town. Minutes later, he was spotted near the New Hope residence of State Senator Ann Rest.
A local officer mistook Boelter for another responding officer but grew suspicious and waited for backup. Rest later credited police with saving her life, saying in a statement, “Their quick action saved my life.”
The most devastating attack occurred shortly after, at the Brooklyn Park home of State Representative Melissa Hortman, the former Speaker of the Minnesota House. According to Thompson, officers arrived to find Boelter’s SUV parked outside with lights flashing and Boelter standing near the door.
As officers approached, Boelter allegedly opened fire and rushed inside. He fatally shot Hortman and her husband Mark before escaping out the back of the home under gunfire from police, officials said.
Authorities recovered a notebook from Boelter’s vehicle containing a list of about 45 elected officials, mostly Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz, Senator Tina Smith, and Representative Ilhan Omar, according to ABC News.
The list also referenced Planned Parenthood locations and other institutions. According to court documents, Boelter had scouted the homes of lawmakers in advance and wrote detailed notes, including one entry next to Hortman’s name: “Big house off golf course, 2 ways in to watch from one spot.”
Searches of property linked to Boelter revealed two handguns, around $10,000 in cash, and passports belonging to his wife and her children. Hours after the shootings, Boelter allegedly texted relatives, writing, “Dad went to war last night … I don’t wanna say more because I don’t want to implicate anybody.”
Boelter, who has five children and a background in the food industry and mortuary transport work, had recently left conventional employment. He had previously served on a state economic board with Senator Hoffman, though it’s unclear whether they had personal contact.
Boelter is facing both federal and state charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, stalking, and firearms violations. In his initial court appearance Monday, Boelter requested a public defender and reported having $20,000 to $30,000 in his bank account. His next hearing is scheduled for June 27.
A motive has not been confirmed, but investigators are continuing to review Boelter’s communications, movements, and potential affiliations. The FBI, ATF, and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are assisting in the investigation.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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