Minnesota shooter Vance Boelter ‘wasn't a hateful person, but needed help, says best friend
Minnesota shooter Vance Boelter's best friend David Carlson opened up about the former on Saturday, just hours after he shot dead Rep Melissa Hortman and her husband, and also shot at Sen John Hoffman and his wife.
The 59-year-old had also received a chilling text message from Boelter before the shooting, wherein he told Carlson and another friend that he might be dead shortly, adding that he loved them both.
Carlson reportedly called authorities soon after receiving that text message as he feared that his best friend might have harmed himself.
He expressed shock over the possibility that Boelter, whom he has been friends with since fourth grade, could be involved in such a heinous crime.
"He wasn't a hateful person. But he needed help," Carlson was quoted as saying by the New York Post.
According to CNN, Carlson said that Boelter was going through financial problems and was struggling to find work. "He was looking around, but maybe things didn't work out and he just gave up and decided to go out in a blaze of glory," he said, adding that he has no idea what his friend was thinking.
Carlson also revealed that Boelter, despite having been a political appointee of Minnesota's Democratic Governor Tim Walz, voted for Republican leader, President Donald Trump. However, he went on to say that he was not aware of his current feelings on state politics.
According to the best friend, while Boelter was against abortion, he wasn't opposed to it in such a manner that could have motivated him to kill.
At the time of the incident, Boelter was allegedly dressed as a police officer and driving a fake police cruiser. He shot legislators Hortman and Hoffman, and their spouses, at their homes.
However, the suspect left behind a target list with more than 70 names, including names of top Democrats like Gov Tim Walz, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Sen. Tina Smith.
Soon after the shootings, the FBI identified Vance Luther Boelter as the suspect in the 'targeted' shootings of the Minnesota lawmakers.
Considering that Boelter is armed and dangerous, the FBI posted a $50,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest.
Additionally, the shooter also had links to a private security firm that owned vehicles resembling police cruisers.
Boelter also had no felony record in the state, and was named in just some minor traffic violations.
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Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Has Vance Boelter been caught, arrested? Latest updates on manhunt for the Minnesota shooter
The search for Vance Luther Boelter, the suspect in the targeted shooting of Minnesota lawmakers State Representative Melissa Hortman and Democratic State Senator John Hoffman, remains active. A press conference is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. today to provide an official update on the manhunt Authorities have located a second vehicle linked to Boelter in Sibley County, Minnesota. In addition to Sibley County, a heavy law enforcement presence remains at a baseball field in Green Isle. A police alert issued Sunday warned: 'MN shooter's suspects vehicle located near MN HWY 25 and 301 Ave. in Faxon TWP, Sibley County. Suspect not located. Keep your doors locked and vehicles secured. Report suspicious activity to 911. Law Enforcement will be going to area residences to ask to search properties.' Several homes near the vehicle discovery site have already been searched. Brian Liebhard, a local resident, told CNN he was returning from church when he found his street blocked off. His home was one of several searched by authorities as the investigation intensified. 'I figured they would have had him apprehended already because of what I did see with what he did in the cities, and he ran off on foot, but I didn't think he'd be dumb enough to come back out here,' Liebhard told CNN. On Saturday, authorities detained Boelter's wife, Jenny Boelter, during a traffic stop near a convenience store in Onamia, Minnesota. She was in the vehicle with three other relatives. According to reports, the vehicle contained a firearm, ammunition, cash, and passports. The reason for the traffic stop has not been disclosed. "My office assisted law enforcement from Hennepin County on a stop near a convenience store in the city of Onamia. Our role on this stop was perimeter. We did not search or question any of the occupants. I was told by my staff who responded that the shooting suspect's wife was in the car along with several other relatives," Kyle Burton, Mille Lacs County Sheriff, told FOX 9. The FBI has released new images of Boelter and announced a $50,000 reward "for info leading to the arrest and conviction' of the suspect. Authorities said the suspect was last seen "wearing a light-colored cowboy hat with a dark-colored long-sleeve collared shirt or coat, light pants and carrying a dark bag' and is considered "armed and dangerous."
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
'Keep your doors locked': Alert issued in Minnesota's Sibley County on murder suspect Vance Boelter
The authorities Sunday issued an alert across Minnesota's Sibley County after they found what they called suspect Vance Luther Boelter's car after he killed state Rep Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Then the accused went to state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, and shot them multiple times, injuring them. "Suspect not located. Keep your doors locked and vehicles secured," warns the alert. The law enforcement has not revealed what type of vehicle they found. But they said they found a manifesto containing a list of names, including dozens of Minnesota lawmakers (such as Hortman, Senator John Hoffman, Governor Tim Walz, US Representative Ilhan Omar, U.S. Senator Tina Smith, and Attorney General Keith Ellison), abortion providers, and pro-abortion rights advocates. The list repo"No Kings" flyers, linked to planned protests against the Trump administration. "No Kings" flyers, linked to planned protests against the Trump administration, were also there, along with a Father's Day card addressed to Boelter. Authorities said it appeared Boelter targeted legislators who are abortion rights supporters, based on writings he left behind. They have not yet released those writings. The suspect in the attacks had been seen earlier Saturday wearing a light colored cowboy hat, a dark-colored long sleeve collared shirt or coat with a dark bag, police said. The FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information that could lead to an arrest. David Carlson, a friend of Boelter, said he had been sharing a house in Minneapolis with Boelter, who he had known since the fourth grade, for a little more than a year and last saw him on Friday night. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Then about 6 a.m. on Saturday, he received a text from Boelter. "He said that he might be dead soon," said Carlson, who called police. Boelter's wife was detained by the police and was found with ammunition, passports and money. She was detained and questioned but their relationship status is not clear as Boelter stays with his friend.
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Was Vance Boelter residing with his wife before Minnesota shooting? Jenny held with gun, ammo, cash and passports
The wife of a man accused of killing a Democratic congressman and her husband was taken into custody during a traffic check after police found a gun, ammo, cash, and passports in the trunk of her vehicle. In Onamia, Minnesota, cops halted Jenny Boelter at around 10 a.m. on Saturday, according to local news KTSP. However, it was unclear if the stop was a regular stop or a premeditated raid by law enforcement as part of their efforts to find Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who is suspected of murder. Jenny and three of her traveling relatives were held for two to three hours while the police examined the vehicle and interrogated them. Although it was unclear if the pair was residing together at the time of the assaults, police on Saturday afternoon raided Boelter's confirmed home in Camden, Minnesota. Vance Boelter, 57, is accused of dressing as a fictitious police officer and operating what appeared to be a police vehicle on Saturday, shooting and killing Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman, 55, and her husband, Mark, and injuring state Senator John Hoffman, 60, and his wife, Yvette. According to his best friend, Boelter was a 'strong' supporter of President Donald Trump. The Hoffmans were assaulted at their home in Champlin, north of Minneapolis, while the Hortmans were attacked at their residence in Brooklyn Park, a Minneapolis suburb. Boelter left behind a list of almost 70 targets, including Senator Tina Smith, Governor Tim Walz, and Representative Ilhan Omar. The list also included proponents of abortion, according to CNN and ABC News. At a press conference, police stated that they are conducting a manhunt for Vance, who is assumed to be walking and has fled the area. The FBI is in charge of the investigation and has offered a cash reward of up to $50,000 for information that results in Boelter's apprehension and conviction.
