Many lawmakers on list of suspected Minnesota shooter vow not to bow down
From a legislator in downtown Minneapolis to a veteran Ohio congresswoman, many lawmakers included in the suspected Minnesota gunman's list of targets have vowed not to bow down.
Vance Boelter, 57, has been charged with federal murder and stalking, along with state charges, following a nearly two-day search that culminated in his capture in the woods near his home.
He is suspected of shooting and killing former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early Saturday. He is also accused of wounding Democratic Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
The dozens of politicians included in Boelter's writings were Democrats, according to acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson. About 45 were state and federal officials in Minnesota, while elected leaders in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin said they were also mentioned in the writings.
Authorities have not provided a motive for the shootings. Manny Atwal, Boelter's lead attorney, declined to comment, saying the office just got the case.
Here's how some of the lawmakers in his writings are reacting to the violence:
Minnesota state Rep. Esther Agbaje
Agbaje spent the weekend with friends and family after learning that her name was on Boelter's list and said she is still trying to make sense of the violence.
But since his arrest, the lawmaker, whose district includes portions of northern and downtown Minneapolis, has returned home. She said she now feels 'more committed than ever' to her work as a legislator.
'We cannot allow people to divide us and then use violence to keep up those divisions,' she said.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, Michigan
A day after Dingell learned her name was included in Boelter's writing, she held a town hall Monday in a high school auditorium in Dexter, Michigan.
'We cannot let terror terrorize us," she told the audience, who cheered.
Dingell, who represents the Ann Arbor area, said that some people had wanted her to cancel the event.
After the town hall, she reflected on her habit of going out in public without her staff because she always wants people to be able to talk with her. After the shooting, law enforcement officers have told her to be more careful.
'We can't let elected officials be cut off," she said. "We can't let elected officials become afraid.'
'Look, I'm going to keep fighting for the people that I represent. I'm going to keep being a voice for those that want me to make sure their voice is heard at the table," she added.
Minnesota state Sen. Ann Rest
Rest, who represents New Hope in Hennepin County, said she was made aware that the suspect had been parked near her home early Saturday. She said in a statement Monday that the 'quick action' of law enforcement officers saved her life.
While she was grateful for the suspect's apprehension, she noted in the statement that she was grieving the loss of the Hortmans and praying for the Hoffmans' recovery.
U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, Michigan
Scholten, who represents Grand Rapids, said she was postponing a Monday town hall after learning she was a potential target.
'Out of an abundance of caution and to not divert additional law enforcement resources away from protecting the broader public at this time, this is the responsible choice,' Scholten said in a statement.
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Ohio
Kaptur's office said in a statement that her name was included in Boelter's writing but that it will not get in the way of her work 'to make life better for families across Northwest Ohio.'
'Uplifting those who she has the honor to serve has been her sole focus every single day she has served and nothing will deter her from doing so now,' the statement said.
Minnesota state Rep. Alex Falconer
Falconer, whose district includes a portion of the Twin Cities, said he woke up Saturday morning while on vacation with his wife and kids to a flurry of text messages about the shootings. The police chief then called to warn him about a list of targets.
Falconer said he later learned he wasn't on the list, but his family decided to stay away until the suspect was in custody. The police chief increased patrols in his neighborhood and stationed a police car outside of his house, he said.
While the question of whether to stay in politics was top of mind for him this weekend, Falconer said, 'They win if we quit.'
Falconer and his Democratic colleagues in the state House gathered at the Capitol on Monday to seek comfort in one another and share stories of Hortman, Falconer said. It was the first time they could meet since the shooting because they had been told by law enforcement to not leave their homes while the suspect remained at-large, he said.
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The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Minnesota shootings latest: Suspect Vance Boelter remains in federal custody on murder charge with bail set at $5m
Police have captured Vance Boelter, 57, who is suspected of fatally shooting Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounding Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. A two-day manhunt for Boelter, described as the largest in Minnesota's history, ended with his arrest late on Sunday. Boelter has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two of attempted murder by the state, while federal charges are for firearm offenses, stalking, and murder, potentially making this a death penalty case. Authorities found "voluminous" written material in Boelter's car and home, including plans, lists of names, and surveillance efforts targeting elected officials, but no clear manifesto as earlier reports suggested. Acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson stated that Boelter had a list of 45 Minnesota state and federal elected officials — all Democrats — and had researched them and their families. Boelter allegedly impersonated a police officer and wore a "hyper-realistic" silicone mask during the shootings, and also went to two other lawmakers ' homes. Pinned What you need to know Vance Boelter, 57, is in police custody after a nearly two-day manhunt for allegedly shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses. Boelter is accused of fatally shooting Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounding Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. Authorities located Boelter's vehicle with evidence, and he was later arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two of attempted murder. According to U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson, Boelter meticulously planned the attacks, researching his victims and conducting surveillance on their homes; he also had a list of 45 Minnesota state and federal elected officials. Boelter, described as "very conservative" and opposed to abortion, allegedly impersonated a police officer and wore a silicone mask during the shootings. Federal charges include stalking, firearm use, and murder, potentially making it a death penalty case. Boelter appeared briefly in court on Monday, saying he could not afford a private attorney. He is scheduled to return before a judge on June 27. Oliver O'Connell16 June 2025 14:36 'The View' thinks Mike Lee posts about Minnesota shooting went too far Tearing into Mike Lee on Monday for his tweets that seemingly blamed the politically motivated shootings of Minnesota lawmakers on 'Marxists' and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the hosts of The View said that if the GOP senator had 'any other job,' he would 'be fired instantly.' Less than a day after saying he condemned 'political violence' following the fatal shooting at a protest in his home state of Utah, Lee took to his personal X account labeled @BasedMikeLee – where he regularly peddles far-right disinformation – to mock the tragedy and point the finger at Democrats and leftists. One tweet, for instance, included an image of alleged shooter Vance Boelter in a mask outside one of his targets' homes alongside the caption: 'Nightmare on Waltz Street.' Another post, which Lee had pinned to his profile until Monday, suggested that left-wing ideology was to blame for the murders. 'Marxism is a deadly mental illness,' he wrote. 'This is what happens when Marxists don't get their way.' Justin Baragona has the story. Josh Marcus17 June 2025 07:00 Minnesota Senator claims Mike Lee fled and pretended to talk on phone to avoid conversation about posts mocking shootings Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota continues to hammer Senator Mike Lee of Utah for his posts on X over the weekend speculating about and making light of the recent shooting of Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota. 'I wanted to look him in the eye and tell him what I thought and how it made me and so many Minnesotans feel that he had done this,' Smith said of a confrontation between the pair that took place in the Capitol on Monday. Smith, in an interview with streamer Brian Tyler Cohen, said she had to 'chase after him a bit' to begin the conversation, and accused Lee of pretending to be on the phone to avoid the head-to-head. 'I don't think this is a man who is frequently confronted by anybody, and I will tell you he seemed a little shocked to have anybody challenging him, let alone one of his colleagues,' Smith added. Josh Marcus17 June 2025 06:00 ICYMI: Police arrest Minnesota shooting suspect Vance Boelter The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband and wounding another and his wife is in custody following a nearly two-day manhunt that followed a shocking streak of political violence. Vance Boelter, 57, is accused of fatally shooting Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as shooting Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their respective homes on Saturday in what has been described as a 'politically motivated' attack. Boelter was armed when he was captured in rural Green Isle, Minnesota late Sunday night. He faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder. 'The face of evil,' Ramsey County Sheriff's Office wrote in a social media caption alongside a photograph of the suspect surrounded by heavily armed law enforcement officers. Ariana Baio and Alex Woodward had the story. Vance Boelter in custody after two-day manhunt in shootings of Minnesota lawmakers Vance Boelter faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder Josh Marcus17 June 2025 05:00 Neighbors describe memories of Minnesota suspect Vance Boelter, and moments before capture Residents of the town of Green Isle are sharing their recollections of suspected Minnesota gunman Vance Boelter, including the tense moments before he was captured near the rural area. Wendy Thomas told CBS Minnesota she was stopping into a friend's house to pick up an address book and speaking with her father on the phone on Sunday evening when she spotted the then-fugitive. "I was coming down the driveway [and] I said, 'Dad, there is somebody in the front yard,'" said Thomas. Boelter ducked down by a culvert once he was spotted, she said. Thomas then fled and flagged down a local deputy, helping alert police to his location. Within two hours Boelter was captured, after police said he tried to evade arrest as officers closed in. Kevin Effertz knew Boelter, who had a property near Green Isle, and said the alleged gunman appeared to be a regular, non-political person before the shootings, which targeted prominent state Democrats. "He never had any political views that we talked about. It was always about the weather, what's going on. How's your family," Effertz told CBS Minnesota. "A guy, you shake your hand with him and everything else, and he does this, which is really strange." Josh Marcus17 June 2025 04:00 Children of slain lawmaker Melissa Hortman Sophie and Colin Hortman, the children of Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were killed in Saturday's shootings, have shared a statement. Here's what they wrote in the message, which was obtained by the Minnesota StarTribune: 'We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents, Melissa and Mark. They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can't believe they are gone. Their love for us was boundless. We miss them so much.' 'We want everyone to know that we are both safe and with loved ones. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received, and we appreciate your respect for our family's privacy as we grieve.' 'Our family would like to thank law enforcement for their swift action that saved others and for the coordination across communities that led to the arrest of the man who murdered our parents. We especially would like to thank the officers who were first on the scene to our parents' home and their heroic attempts to rescue our mom and dad.' 'Our parents touched so many lives, and they leave behind an incredible legacy of dedication to their community that will live on in us, their friends, their colleagues and co-workers, and every single person who knew and loved them.' If you would like to honor the memory of Mark and Melissa, please consider the following: Plant a tree. Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail. Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do. Tell your loved ones a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it. Bake something — bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa, and share it with someone. Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something. Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace. 'Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. Our parents lived their lives with immense dedication to their fellow humans. This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect. The best way to honor our parents' memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.' Josh Marcus17 June 2025 03:01 Leader of Minnesota House calls on colleagues to 'set the tone' and show respectful bipartisanship Lisa Demuth, the Republican Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, is calling on her colleagues of both parties to 'set the tone' and follow the example of her predecessor, the well-regarded Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was killed in Saturday's shootings. 'We got along really well, and it's because she started building that working relationship over the years,' Demuth told the Minnesota StarTribune on Monday. 'Without that happening, it would have made this year a lot harder.' 'This person is completely a monster,' Demuth added of alleged gunman Vance Boelter. 'No rational agreement or disagreement on any type of policy should ever lead to something like this.' Josh Marcus17 June 2025 02:30 'Unconscionable': Minnesota senator's staff slams Mike Lee over mocking posts A senior staff member for Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota slammed Utah Senator Mike Lee over his posts appearing to mock the recent shooting of Democratic state lawmakers in Minnesota, as well as claim without evidence their killings were a Marxist attack. In an email, obtained by Politico, the staff member called the posts 'unconscionable.' 'Why would you use the awesome power of a United States Senate Office to compound people's grief,' the official wrote. 'Is this how your team measures success? Using the office of [a] US Senator to post not just one but a series of jokes about an assassination — is that a successful day of work on Team Lee?' 17 June 2025 02:00 Trump still hasn't called Minnesota governor, but Vance has Three days after shootings targeted state lawmakers, President Trump still hasn't reached out to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democrat said on Monday. Walz, who served as the vice presidential nominee on the Democratic ticket against Trump in 2024, said he wasn't surprised. 'I think I understand where that's at,' Walz told MPR. 'I did speak to Vice President Vance, grateful for that call.' 'I'm always open to you know, people expressing gratitude,' he added. 'Vice President Vance assured us, and he delivered, that the FBI would be there as partners with us to get it done. That was what needed to be done.' Trump can't resist dig at Tim Walz while discussing Minnesota lawmaker assassinations Trump had not called govenor more than 24 hours after suspect caught in targeted assassination of Democratic lawmaker and her husband Josh Marcus17 June 2025 01:45 Minnesota shootings upend balance in evenly split state House The Minnesota shootings have not only traumatized family members and local leaders alike, but they also have altered what was previously the evenly divided partisan balance of the state's House of Representatives. With the killing of Melissa Hortman, the House's top Democrat, Republicans now have a one-vote majority. The governor will likely call a special election for Hortman's seat before the next legislative session begins in February. Democrats say this isn't an immediate concern, though.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Minnesota shooting suspect had dozens of potential targets, prosecutors say
The man charged with killing one Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another in what prosecutors have described as a meticulously planned attack, had dozens of apparent targets, including officials in at least three other states. Vance Boelter allegedly made it to the homes of two other legislators on the night of the attacks, but one was on vacation and the suspect left the other house after police arrived, acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said Monday. All of the politicians named in his writing were Democrats, including more than 45 state and federal officials in Minnesota, Thompson said. Elected leaders in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin said they, too, were mentioned in his writings. Investigators say Boelter appeared to spend months preparing for the shootings — the latest in a string of political attacks across the U.S. In Minnesota, Boelter carried out surveillance missions, took notes on the homes and people he targeted, and disguised himself as a police officer just before the shootings, Thompson said. 'It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares,' he said. Boelter surrendered to police Sunday night after they found him in the woods near his home after a massive two-day search. He is accused of fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs. Authorities say he also shot and wounded Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, who lived a few miles away. Federal prosecutors charged Boelter, 57, with murder and stalking, which could result in a death sentence if convicted. He already faces state charges, including murder and attempted murder. At a federal court hearing Monday in St. Paul, Boelter said he could not afford an attorney. A federal public defender was appointed to represent him, and he was being held without bail pending a court appearance next week. Manny Atwal, his lead attorney, declined to comment, saying the office just got the case. Notebooks show careful planning Boelter had many notebooks full of plans, Thompson said. Underscoring what law enforcement officials said was the premeditated nature of the attacks, one notebook contained a list of internet-based people search engines, according to court records. But authorities have not found any writings that would 'clearly identify what motivated him,' Thompson said. He said it was also too soon to speculate on any sort of political ideology. Democratic Rep. Esther Agbaje, whose district includes parts of Minneapolis, said she stayed with friends and family over the weekend after learning that her name appeared on the list of targets. In texts, the suspect said he 'went to war' Authorities declined to reveal the names of the other two lawmakers whose homes were targeted but escaped harm. Democratic Sen. Ann Rest said she was told the suspect parked near her home early Saturday. She said in a statement that the 'quick action' of law enforcement officers saved her life. Boelter sent a text to a family group chat after the shootings that said: 'Dad went to war last night ... I don't wanna say more because I don't wanna implicate anybody,' according to an FBI affidavit. His wife got another text that said: 'Words are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation ... there's gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don't want you guys around,' the affidavit said. Police later found his wife in a car with her children. Officers found two handguns, about $10,000 in cash and passports for the wife and her children, according to the affidavit. Just hours after the shootings Saturday, Boelter bought an electric bike and a Buick sedan from someone he met at a bus stop in Minneapolis, the federal affidavit said. Police found the sedan abandoned on a highway Sunday morning. In the car, officers found a cowboy hat Boelter had been seen wearing in surveillance footage as well as a letter written to the FBI, authorities said. The letter said it was written by 'Dr. Vance Luther Boulter' and he was 'the shooter at large." The car was found in rural Sibley County, where Boelter owned a home. Coordinated attacks on legislators The Hoffmans were attacked first at their home in Champlin. Their adult daughter called 911 to say a masked person had come to the door and shot her parents. Boelter had shown up carrying a flashlight and a 9 mm handgun and wearing a black tactical vest and a 'hyper-realistic' silicone mask, Thompson said. He first knocked and shouted: 'This is police.' At one point, the Hoffmans realized he was wearing a mask and Boelter told them 'this is a robbery.' After Sen. Hoffman tried to push Boelter out the door, Boelter shot him repeatedly and then shot his wife, the prosecutor said. A statement released Sunday by Yvette Hoffman said her husband underwent several surgeries after being hit by nine bullets. After hearing about a lawmaker being shot, officers arrived just in time to see Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the home, according to the complaint. They exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who fled into the home before escaping, the complaint said. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside, according to the document. Their dog also was shot and had to be euthanized. Search for motive continues Writings recovered from the fake police vehicle included the names of lawmakers and community leaders, along with abortion rights advocates and information about health care facilities, said two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation. Friends and former colleagues interviewed by the AP describe Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church and went to campaign rallies for President Donald Trump. Boelter also is a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, records show, though it was not clear if they knew each other. ___ Durkin Richer reported from Washington and Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Michael Biesecker and Eric Tucker in Washington, John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas and Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
40 hours of violence and fear as gunman stalks Minnesota politicians
Violence and fear swept through towns in an arc around Minneapolis for more than 40 hours over the weekend as a man seemingly intent on sowing political devastation killed one Minnesota state lawmaker and left another bleeding from nine bullet wounds. The attacks sparked the largest manhunt in Minnesota history, with heavily armed officers in full combat gear riding armored vehicles through suburban streets and country roads, ending in the arrest of Vance Boelter, a 57-year-old father of five and sometime Christian pastor known for his deeply conservative beliefs — but whose friends never saw him as an extremist. From a state that has long prided itself on political civility, the attacks rippled across the country as frightened political leaders worried that America's divides could cost them their lives. 'This was a political assassination, which is not the word we use very often in the United States, let alone in Minnesota' acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson told reporters Monday. 'It's a chilling attack on our democracy, on our way of life.' Saturday, June 14, 2:06 a.m., Champlin, Minnesota The black SUV's emergency lights were flashing when it pulled up to the brick split-level home in the quiet, middle-class Minneapolis suburb. The maple tree in the front yard was lush with summer leaves. The man got out of the car wearing tactical clothing, body armor and what looked like a police badge. He was carrying a 9 mm Beretta pistol. He knocked loudly and repeatedly shouted, 'This is the police, open the door.' Later, even law enforcement officials said they would have believed he was a police officer. About 2:07 a.m., Champlin The couple who lived at the Champlin home, Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, opened the door to a flashlight shining in their faces. There had been a report of a shooting in the house, Boelter told them. But when he eventually lowered the flashlight, Yvette Hoffman could see he was wearing a realistic mask that covered his entire head. In the confrontation that followed, he shot both repeatedly. The next morning, nine bullet holes could be seen in their front door. Police responded within minutes, after a 911 call from the Hoffman's adult daughter, who also lives in the house. The legislator and his wife were rushed to a nearby hospital. 2:24 a.m., Maple Grove A little more than 10 miles (16 kilometers) away, security camera footage showed Boelter, still in his mask and tactical clothing, holding a flashlight as he rang the doorbell at the home of someone who authorities have so far only identified as 'Public Official 1.' 'This is the police. Open the door,' he said loudly. 'We have a warrant.' Boelter was traveling with a list of about 70 names, including prominent state and federal lawmakers, community leaders and abortion-rights advocates, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation. The federal affidavit says the list was composed of 'mostly or all Democrats.' No one was at the Maple Grove home. Boelter soon left. But he had plenty of other targets. Boelter had carefully planned his attacks in advance, making notes about targets' families and conducting surveillance on their homes, Thompson said. 'Boelter stalked his victims like prey,' he said. About 2:36 a.m., New Hope Roughly 5 miles (8 kilometers) away, in another suburb just north of Minneapolis, Boelter drove to the home of Democratic state Sen. Ann Rest. By then, law enforcement was starting to worry about local legislators and New Hope police dispatched an officer to do a safety check at Rest's home. That officer found what she thought was a police vehicle already doing a check, parked down the street from the house. When the officer tried to speak to Boelter, he stared straight ahead and didn't respond. The officer then drove to Rest's home, and after seeing no trouble waited for backup and returned to where Boelter had been parked. But by then he was gone. Around 3:30 a.m., Brooklyn Park An off-duty sergeant with the Brooklyn Park police was leaving the station when he heard about the shooting at Hoffman's house. ''Hey, drive by Melissa Hortman's house and just check on the house, would you?' he told a pair of officers, the city's police chief, Mark Bruley, told reporters. Hortman, 55, the former house speaker, had long been one of the state's leading Democrats. Minutes later, Brooklyn Park Boelter, his phony police car parked out front with its lights flashing, was standing at the front door of the large brick home when the real Brooklyn Park officers arrived. 'Moments after their arrival on scene, Boelter fired several gunshots as he moved forward, entering the Hortmans' home,' the federal affidavit states. Moments later, he fired a second set of shots. The officers moved to the house and found a gravely injured Mark Hortman in the doorway. Inside the house, they found Melissa Hortman. She had also been badly shot. Both soon died. Left behind, though, was Boelter's car, with the list of targets and at least five weapons. Nearby, police found the mask Boelter had worn along with the pistol he'd carried. Law enforcement believed he was on foot. About 6:18 a.m. 'Dad went to war last night,' said a message Boelter sent on a family group text, which his wife eventually shared with authorities. Police had found her by tracking her cellphone. They found her in a car with her children, along with two handguns, about $10,000 in cash and passports, the affidavit said. Boelter had apparently urged her to leave. 'Words are not going to explain how sorry I am,' he said in another message. 'there's gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don't want you guys around.' He also reached out to two roommates with whom he sometimes stayed in Minneapolis. 'May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn't gone this way,' Boelter wrote, according to Paul Schroeder, who has known Boelter for years. Friends said Boelter had been struggling financially in recent years. In 2023, he began working for a transport service for a funeral home, mostly picking up bodies from assisted-living facilities. That job ended about four months ago. Later Saturday morning, Brooklyn Park Within hours of the Hortman shooting, hundreds of police officers, sheriff deputies and FBI agents were roaming the streets near the scene. Cellphones in the area pinged an alert, urging people near the Hortmans' neighborhood to take shelter. 'Police are still looking for a suspect in multiple targeted shootings who is armed and dangerous," the alert said, giving a description of Boelter. 'Do not approach.' A series of roadblocks was also set up, with law enforcement searching every vehicle as it left, fearing Boelter could try to escape by hiding in a car. About 7 a.m., bus stop in north Minneapolis Carrying two duffel bags, Boelter approached a man he didn't know at a Minneapolis bus stop roughly 7 miles (11 kilometers) from the Hortmans' home and asked to purchase his electric bike. After taking the bus together to the man's home, Boelter agreed to buy the bike and the man's Buick sedan. They then drove the Buick to a bank branch in nearby Robbinsdale, where Boelter, who can be seen in security footage wearing a cowboy hat, withdrew $2,200, emptying his bank account. He paid the man $900. Sunday, June 15, about 2:30 a.m., Green Isle Law enforcement received a report of someone riding an e-bike on a country road outside the small town of Green Isle, about an hour from downtown Minneapolis. The cyclist was not found, but Boelter's family lives not far away, in a sprawling 3,800-square-foot house they bought in 2023 for more than $500,000. Later Sunday morning The Buick was found, abandoned, near where the cyclist had been spotted. Worried about explosives, law enforcement initially used a robot to check the car. Inside, they found the cowboy hat that Boelter appeared to be wearing in the bank. There was also a handwritten letter addressed to the FBI in which Boelter said he was 'the shooter at large in Minnesota involved in the 2 shootings.' Sunday night, Green Isle Law enforcement set up a large perimeter near Green Isle after a police officer thought he'd seen Boelter running into the woods. Twenty tactical teams were called in for an intensive search. For hours, heavily armed men, some with dogs, walked the roads and fields of rural Sibley County. A helicopter was called in to help. Boelter was spotted shortly before nightfall, and officers surrounded him. He soon surrendered, crawling to officers who handcuffed him and took him into custody. Monday, St. Paul Boelter now faces a series of state charges, including murder and attempted murder. Federal prosecutors announced they had charged him with murder and stalking, which could result in a death sentence if he is convicted. At a federal court hearing Monday in St. Paul, Boelter said he could not afford an attorney. A federal defender was appointed to represent him. He was ordered held without bail ahead of a court appearance next week. Across the U.S., local and state politicians rushed to scrub home addresses from websites and began debating whether security should now be provided for politicians like state senators. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar shared a text from Yvette Hoffman, whose recovery came quicker than her husband's. 'John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,' Yvette Hoffman said Saturday in a text that Klobuchar posted on social media. 'He took 9 bullet hits. I took 8 and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark.' ___ Associated Press reporters Alanna Durkin Richer, Michael Biesecker, Mike Balsamo and Eric Tucker in Washington; Jim Mustian in New York; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; Rio Yamat in Las Vegas; Giovanna Dell'Orto in Champlin; Obed Lamy in St. Paul and Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report. ___ This story was compiled from federal and state legal documents, interviews with law enforcement officials, political officials and people who knew Boelter and the victims.
