Suspected killer of Minnesota lawmakers is a 'prepper' who had 'bailout' plan for family

USA Today

3 hours ago

Recently unsealed court filings reveal how Vance Boelter was preparing himself and his family for a catastrophic event. Police found his wife with two guns and around $10,000 in cash.
The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband in a brazen assault while dressed as a police officer is a doomsday "prepper" who set aside passports, guns and hordes of cash in the event of a catastrophe, newly unsealed federal court documents show.
Vance Boelter's wife relayed the doomsday plans after she was interviewed by police during a manhunt for Boelter after he allegedly shot four people on June 14, according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota.
"During an interview, Boelter's wife identified that she had recently receive a group text message from Boelter in a group text thread with their kids," FBI Special Agent Terry Getsch wrote. "The text stated something to the effect of they should prepare for war, they needed to get out of the house and people with guns may be showing up to the house."
Boelter's wife was stopped by law enforcement while traveling with her four children to visit friends northwest of the metro area, the federal complaint said. In the car, officers found a safe, all of the children's passports as well as Boelter's, about $10,000 in cash, a revolver pistol in the glove box and another semi-automatic pistol in a cooler, the FBI says in the complaint.
Boelter, 57, is accused of killing state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and seriously wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
The new information about Boelter and his family comes nearly a week after the attack that investigators say Boelter "extensively researched" and planned. He compiled a list of mostly Democratic state lawmakers and their addresses; he fitted his SUV with lights and a fake license plate to resemble a police squad car; and he purchased a silicone mask and a cache of weapons, according to a 20-page affidavit filed in federal court.
Details about what Boelter's wife was carrying come after federal investigators revealed Boelter sent multiple texts to her and the children hours after the shootings.
In a group chat, he sent the following message at 6:18 a.m.: 'Dad went to war last night … I dont wanna say more because I dont wanna implicate anybody.'
Around the same time, his wife received a separate message from Boelter. '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.'
Boelter was arrested late June 15 following the largest manhunt in Minnesota state history, authorities said. Federal prosecutors charged him with several counts of murder and stalking.
Minnesota authorities say they believe Boelter impersonated law enforcement to gain access to the victims' homes, exchanged gunfire with police and fled on foot outside Minneapolis.
Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz called the killing of Hortman a "politically motivated assassination."
What else to know about Boelter?
At various times, Boelter has claimed to work in the food service industry. In other moments, he's claimed he runs large firms involved with 'security situations' overseas, including Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
The recently unsealed court filings said Boelter worked at Red Lion, a 'security company and fishing outfit in Congo, Africa.'
On LinkedIn, Boelter called himself CEO of Red Lion, according to reporting by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, though the Red Lion website linked to his LinkedIn profile was down and Boelter said he was open to work.
He also appeared as a speaker for a Minnesota nonprofit serving African immigrant communities. Minnesota Africans United, a Brooklyn Park nonprofit, said in a statement that Boelter participated in an August 2022 virtual webinar about trade and investment in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Boelter's participation as a speaker was facilitated by a third-party, the statement said. He was never hired, paid or contracted by the nonprofit, which had no contact with him since the one-time appearance.
A biography for the session described Boelter as having worked in Congo and for a security guard company.
USA TODAY previously reported that a LinkedIn page believed to belong to Boelter showed he attended St. Cloud State University. University spokesperson Zach Dwyer confirmed Boelter graduated in 1996.
Childhood friend called police on him
David Carlson, 59, told Reuters that he has been sharing a house in Minneapolis with Boelter for a little more than a year and last saw him the night of June 13. At about 6 a.m. on June 14, he received a text from Boelter.
"He said that he might be dead soon," said Carlson, who called police.
Carlson, who has known Boelter since fourth grade, said Boelter worked for an eye donation center and stayed at the house because it was close to his job. Carlson said he feels betrayed by Boelter and heartbroken for the victims, adding: "His family has got to suffer through this."
Federal authorities said the Boelter family home was in Green Isle, Minnesota, about one mile from where he was ultimately captured. The Minnesota city of around 600 people is about an hour southwest of the Twin Cities.
Green Isle is a small community, Mayor Shane Sheets told USA TODAY. Boelter had no known political involvement or affiliation in the city, he said