Minnesota state senator injured in fatal shootings out of ICU: Reports
A spokesperson for the Hoffman family did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on July 8.
In the pre-dawn hours of June 14, a person posed as a law enforcement officer to gain access to the victims' homes in the Minneapolis area. Authorities said the person, later identified as Vance Boelter, 57, shot Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, multiple times and left them seriously injured inside their home.
Authorities also accused Boelter of going to the homes of another state legislator and an elected official in a vehicle that was fitted to resemble a police squad car. He was unable to make contact with the two officials and then went to the home of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.
Boelter then killed both of them and gravely injured their dog, according to authorities. Officials have called the attack a targeted "political assassination."
Minnesota lawmaker shootings: Suspect's wife says she was 'completely blindsided'
What happened to Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife?
At around 2 a.m. local time on June 14, Boelter drove to the Hoffmans' house in Champlin, about 20 miles northwest of Minneapolis, according to a 20-page affidavit filed in federal court. He had altered his black SUV with emergency lights and a fake license plate to resemble a police squad car, the affidavit states.
Video footage from the Hoffmans' home showed Boelter approaching the door while wearing a disguise that included a black tactical vest, a flashlight, and a flesh-colored mask that covered his entire head, according to the affidavit. He knocked on the door and shouted repeatedly, "This is the police. Open the door," the affidavit states.
Either John and Yvette Hoffman came to the door, and Boelter told them he was there in response to a report of shooting inside the house, according to the affidavit. After a short exchange, Yvette Hoffman got a better look at Boelter and realized he was wearing a mask.
Upon realizing this, the affidavit states that "one or both of the Hoffmans" told Boelter he was not a real police officer. In response, Boelter said: "This is a robbery," according to the affidavit.
Yvette Hoffman later told authorities that her husband tried to push Boelter back through the front door, but Boelter shot him multiple times before turning his gun on her, the affidavit states. At about 2:06 a.m., the Hoffmans' adult daughter called 911 to report that her parents had been shot by a masked gunman.
Shooting suspect faces federal, state charges
Investigators have said Boelter "extensively researched" and planned the June 14 attack. He allegedly compiled a list of mostly Democratic state lawmakers and their addresses, and purchased a cache of weapons, according to the affidavit.
Boelter was arrested on the night of June 15 following an intense manhunt and remains in custody without bail. He is facing state and federal charges in connection with the attacks, including multiple counts of murder and stalking.
Authorities have not provided a motive, but Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has said the shooting "appears to be a politically motivated assassination." Officials across the country have also decried the incident, calling it an act of political violence targeting elected officials.
Prosecutors said Boelter's killings amount to a "political assassination" and he could face the death penalty if he's convicted on federal charges for shootings. While Minnesota abolished the death penalty over a century ago, the federal murder charges carry a maximum penalty of capital punishment.
Minnesota shooting suspect: Suspected killer of Minnesota lawmaker is a doomsday 'prepper' with 'bailout' plan
Contributing: Christopher Cann, Jeanine Santucci, and Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY
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