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First Post
7 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Who is Vance Luther Boelter, shooting suspect who killed Minnesota lawmaker, injured another?
Dressed as a police officer, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter shot and killed former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their Minnesota home. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also injured after being shot at. Notably, in 2019, Boelter was appointed by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to a four-year term on the Governor's Workforce Development Board read more In 2019, Boelter was appointed by Tim Walz to a four-year term on the Governor's Workforce Development Board. FBI A massive search is on for 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, who is accused of killing a senior Democratic assemblywoman from Minnesota and her husband, and shooting State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Officials said Boelter dressed as a police officer and shot former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their home in Brooklyn Park early on Saturday. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called it 'a politically motivated assassination.' John Hoffman, who is also a Democrat, and his wife Yvette were injured at their home in Champlin, around nine miles (roughly 15 kilometres) away. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But who is Vance Luther Boelter? How did the incident take place? Let's answer these questions for you. Who is Vance Boelter? Boelter has worked in several fields, including security, international business, and workforce development. As per Minnesota Africans United (MAU), he holds a doctorate in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service from Cardinal Stritch University. He has worked with well-known companies like Nestle, Del Monte, and Marathon Speedway. Corporate records accessed by Associated Press show that Boelter's wife set up a company called Praetorian Guard Security Services LLC. The address used is the same as the couple's Green Isle residence. The FBI offers a reward of up to $50,000 for info leading to the arrest and conviction of Vance L. Boelter, suspected of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses at their residences on June 14, 2025: — FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) June 14, 2025 The company website names Boelter's wife as the president and CEO, while he is listed as the director of security patrols. The site promotes armed security for events and properties. It also shows an SUV painted in black and silver, similar to a police vehicle, with a light bar on top and 'Praetorian' marked on the doors. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2019, the 57-year-old was appointed by Tim Walz to a four-year term on the Governor's Workforce Development Board. He earlier served on the same council in 2016, when Mark Dayton was governor. According to CNN, Boelter registered as a Republican in the early 2000s. Police said they found fliers in Boelter's car with the words 'No Kings,' a reference to protests held on Saturday against the Trump Administration. They also found a 'manifesto' and a list of names of other politicians. Notably, officers had briefly surrounded Boelter at Melissa Hortman's home before he got away. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said Boelter first shot Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. About 90 minutes later, Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed while officers were investigating the earlier shooting. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called it 'a politically motivated assassination'. Reuters Evans said Boelter is considered armed and dangerous and is likely still in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. He added that it was too early to say what the motive might be. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Reuters reported that Boelter had ties to evangelical ministries and claimed to have security expertise in the Gaza Strip and parts of Africa, according to online posts and public records. 'I might be dead soon': Boelter texted friend Police said the suspect was seen on Saturday wearing a light-coloured cowboy hat, a dark long-sleeved collared shirt or coat, and carrying a dark bag. The FBI has announced a reward of up to $50,000 for any information that leads to his arrest. David Carlson, 59, told Reuters that he had been sharing a house in Minneapolis with Boelter for just over a year. He last saw him on Friday night. Around 6 a.m. on Saturday, Carlson received a message from Boelter. Bullet holes mark the front door of Minnesota state Senator John Hoffman. Reuters 'He said that he might be dead soon,' Carlson said, who then contacted the police. Carlson, who has known Boelter since the fourth grade, said Boelter had been working for an eye donation centre and stayed at the house due to its proximity to his workplace. He said he now feels betrayed and heartbroken for the victims, adding, 'His family has got to suffer through this.' Minnesota shooting: What happened? The attacker posed as a police officer and shot Minnesota assemblywoman Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. He also opened fire at Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, injuring them both. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Walz, who was Kamala Harris' running mate during last year's presidential election, said the suspect went to the Hortmans' home after attacking the Hoffmans at their house in Champlin, a nearby town. Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman. Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate/Reuters After firing at police at the Hortman residence, the suspect ran from the scene on foot. The Hoffmans were taken for surgery. Walz said he was 'cautiously optimistic' about their recovery. Donald Trump said he had been informed of the 'terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears to be a targeted attack against State Lawmakers.' 'Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!' he said in a statement. The FBI has released photos of Boelter dressed in a rubber mask and a uniform resembling that of a police officer. With inputs from agencies
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vance Boelter Posted on Social Media That He Was Red Lion Group CEO
Vance Boelter, named by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety as the accused shooter of Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, wrote on social media that he was the CEO of a company called "Red Lion Group." On LinkedIn, Boelter also touted his experience on the "Governor's Workforce Development Board." He was appointed to that non-partisan board by Gov. Tim Walz, and former Gov. Mark Dayton, per the New York Post and a press release on the state website. His Facebook page appears to be deleted, but his LinkedIn page is active. Boelter listed the website for Red Lion Group as " Boelter spoke at an event in 2020 put on by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Minnesota Africans United and Global Minnesota, according to a video posted to Facebook. "This all started back in 2019, when my partner, McNay Nkashama, brought in the ambassador from the DRC to Minnesota, and we had meetings, the bulk of them in Minneapolis but the bulk of them that I was at was in Worthington, Minnesota where we made those connections,' said Boelter. The website for Red Lion Group is defunct, and the Wayback machine had no archived pages for it. Boelter recently posted on LinkedIn that he was looking for work. Authorities have not named Boelter, 57, as the suspect publicly, but he was identified through sources to the Associated Press, a Duluth television station, and the New York Post. Public records show only one Vance Boelter in the country, and meeting minutes with the state board refer to him as Dr. Vance Boelter; the LinkedIn page for Dr. Vance Boelter gives his location as the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and lists the work on the governor's workforce development board. On LinkedIn, he wrote that he was CEO of Red Lion Group for more than three years, and previously a general manager at 7-Eleven. He also cited experience at Greencore, Delmonte Foods, Johnsonville Sausage, and Nestle Gerber. A state document listing the Workforce Development Board members refers to him as Dr. Vance Boelter, 7-Eleven. Fox News reported that Boelter, 57, "is reportedly the CEO of Red Lion Group, based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Praetorian Guard Security Services, according to Minnesota Africans United's website." That Security Services company's website lists Boelter as Director of Security Patrols and says, "Dr. Vance Boelter has been involved with security situations in Eastern Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East, including the West Bank, Southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. He brings a great security aspect forged by both many on the ground experiences combined with training by both private security firms and by people in the U.S. Military. He has worked for the largest U.S. oil refining company, the world's largest food company based in Switzerland and the world's largest convenience retailer based in Japan." His wife Jenny Boelter is also listed as working for that company. According to the New York Post, Vance Boelter "last registered to vote in 2022 as a Republican." That website repeats the LinkedIn bio and says that Boelter "currently lives in Minnesota with his wife Jenny and their children." Boelter's dad's obituary also names his wife as Jenny and says his dad was a public school teacher and coach. Walz called the shooting deaths of state Rep. and former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in their own home a targeted political assassination. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and wounded earlier in the morning of June 14, the governor said. All were members of the Democratic-Farm-Labor party. There is a massive manhunt for the suspect, who dressed as a police officer and had a manifesto, according to authorities. A month ago, Boelter wrote on LinkedIn, "Hi everyone! I'm looking to get back into the U.S. Food Industry and I'm pretty open to positions. Other Leadership positions outside of the Food Industry I'm willing to hear about as well. I have been doing projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa the last three years with Red Lion Group. If you hear of any opportunities or just want to catch up, please send me a message." Two years ago, Boelter wrote on LinkedIn, "I'm currently in the Democratic Republic of Congo working on several projects. If I'm slow to respond my apologies as some cities have a better internet signal than others and some are pretty limited. I will respond as soon as I can." He added, "Red Lion Group had a great meeting with the new Governor of Congo Central to talk about our private business projects that are all moving forward In that a Province. Some of our team will be staying a little longer in Washington DC in March when we are back in the U.S. to connect again with the DRC Ambassador about how our third trip to the DRC has gone. Everything is on schedule and within everyone has been well in all areas." Six years ago, he encouraged people to vote, writing, "I normally don't post much but I just wanted to put a note out there to encourage everyone to vote in the election on Tuesday. I have been in several countries where people don't have the ability to vote for who their leaders are. I will just say they were not places that anyone of us would want to live in if we had any choice in the matter." He added: "So I am very big on just telling people to be a part of the process and vote your values and be part of this adventure we are all a part of living in the United States of America. For those of you that I'm connected with that are not in the United States, if you believe in prayer, please keep the United States in your prayers. I think the election is going to have more of an impact on the direction of our country than probably any election we have been apart of, or will be apart of for years to come. Thanks for listening and thanks in advance for getting out there and casting your vote." Boelter is a graduate of Cardinal Stritch and St. Cloud universities, the page says. He has a doctorate, it Boelter Posted on Social Media That He Was Red Lion Group CEO first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 14, 2025
The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Political assassination' suspect still at large in US
A manhunt is still underway for the suspect in the deadly shooting of a Minnesota state politician and the wounding of another, as details emerge of his background. Police say Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is suspected of killing Democratic Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Hortman - the senior Democratic and former assembly speaker in Minnesota - was remembered by Governor Tim Walz as someone with "grace, compassion, and tirelessness." Among issues she focused on were environmental causes, racial equality, reproductive rights and stricter gun control. Advocacy groups pointed to her support for police reforms after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. She helped advance a legislation that banned police choke holds. Walz described the shooting as a "politically motivated assassination. Former US Vice President Kamala Harris described Hortman as an "outstanding public servant." Harris added: "She passed legislation that enshrined freedoms and increased opportunity for the people of Minnesota. I saw her impact firsthand when I was with her in Minnesota." Walz said he was cautiously optimistic that Senator Hoffman and his wife would survive "this assassination attempt" as they underwent surgery. Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans' home shortly after 2 am, Champlin police said, and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds. After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to check on Hortman's home. There they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer at the door, leaving the house. "When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home" and escaped, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information that could lead to his arrest. Boelter had links to evangelical ministries and said he was a security expert with experience in the Gaza Strip and Africa, according to his online postings and public records. A man who shared a house in Minneapolis with Boelter for a little more than a year, told Reuters he received a text from Boelter on Saturday. "He said that he might be dead soon," said David Carlson, who called police. Boelter was appointed in 2016 to the Governor's Workforce Development Board, state records show. The board "has a responsibility to advise the Governor on Minnesota's workforce system," according to its website. Asked if Boelter knew the Democrat lawmakers, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said: "We are still exploring that." "There's certainly some overlap with some public meetings, I will say, with Senator Hoffman and the individual. But we don't know the nature of the relationship or if they actually knew each other," he told reporters. Boelter listed himself as having no political party preference, however Carlson said Boelter voted for Trump, was a Christian and did not like abortion, though he added that the pair had not talked about the issue for a long time, adding: "He wasn't really angry about politics." In social media accounts, public records and websites reviewed by Reuters, Boelter described himself as a Christian minister, a security expert with experience in the Middle East and Africa, and a former employee of food service companies. He and his wife, Jennifer, also ran a security service called Praetorian Guard Security Services. Nonprofit tax filings show that Boelter and his wife ran a Christian ministry organisation called Revoformation. The most recent filing, in 2010, lists Boelter as president. After firing at police on Saturday, the suspect abandoned a vehicle in which officers found a "manifesto" and a list of other legislators and officials, law enforcement officials said. A manhunt is still underway for the suspect in the deadly shooting of a Minnesota state politician and the wounding of another, as details emerge of his background. Police say Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is suspected of killing Democratic Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Hortman - the senior Democratic and former assembly speaker in Minnesota - was remembered by Governor Tim Walz as someone with "grace, compassion, and tirelessness." Among issues she focused on were environmental causes, racial equality, reproductive rights and stricter gun control. Advocacy groups pointed to her support for police reforms after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. She helped advance a legislation that banned police choke holds. Walz described the shooting as a "politically motivated assassination. Former US Vice President Kamala Harris described Hortman as an "outstanding public servant." Harris added: "She passed legislation that enshrined freedoms and increased opportunity for the people of Minnesota. I saw her impact firsthand when I was with her in Minnesota." Walz said he was cautiously optimistic that Senator Hoffman and his wife would survive "this assassination attempt" as they underwent surgery. Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans' home shortly after 2 am, Champlin police said, and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds. After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to check on Hortman's home. There they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer at the door, leaving the house. "When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home" and escaped, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information that could lead to his arrest. Boelter had links to evangelical ministries and said he was a security expert with experience in the Gaza Strip and Africa, according to his online postings and public records. A man who shared a house in Minneapolis with Boelter for a little more than a year, told Reuters he received a text from Boelter on Saturday. "He said that he might be dead soon," said David Carlson, who called police. Boelter was appointed in 2016 to the Governor's Workforce Development Board, state records show. The board "has a responsibility to advise the Governor on Minnesota's workforce system," according to its website. Asked if Boelter knew the Democrat lawmakers, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said: "We are still exploring that." "There's certainly some overlap with some public meetings, I will say, with Senator Hoffman and the individual. But we don't know the nature of the relationship or if they actually knew each other," he told reporters. Boelter listed himself as having no political party preference, however Carlson said Boelter voted for Trump, was a Christian and did not like abortion, though he added that the pair had not talked about the issue for a long time, adding: "He wasn't really angry about politics." In social media accounts, public records and websites reviewed by Reuters, Boelter described himself as a Christian minister, a security expert with experience in the Middle East and Africa, and a former employee of food service companies. He and his wife, Jennifer, also ran a security service called Praetorian Guard Security Services. Nonprofit tax filings show that Boelter and his wife ran a Christian ministry organisation called Revoformation. The most recent filing, in 2010, lists Boelter as president. After firing at police on Saturday, the suspect abandoned a vehicle in which officers found a "manifesto" and a list of other legislators and officials, law enforcement officials said. A manhunt is still underway for the suspect in the deadly shooting of a Minnesota state politician and the wounding of another, as details emerge of his background. Police say Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is suspected of killing Democratic Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Hortman - the senior Democratic and former assembly speaker in Minnesota - was remembered by Governor Tim Walz as someone with "grace, compassion, and tirelessness." Among issues she focused on were environmental causes, racial equality, reproductive rights and stricter gun control. Advocacy groups pointed to her support for police reforms after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. She helped advance a legislation that banned police choke holds. Walz described the shooting as a "politically motivated assassination. Former US Vice President Kamala Harris described Hortman as an "outstanding public servant." Harris added: "She passed legislation that enshrined freedoms and increased opportunity for the people of Minnesota. I saw her impact firsthand when I was with her in Minnesota." Walz said he was cautiously optimistic that Senator Hoffman and his wife would survive "this assassination attempt" as they underwent surgery. Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans' home shortly after 2 am, Champlin police said, and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds. After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to check on Hortman's home. There they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer at the door, leaving the house. "When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home" and escaped, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information that could lead to his arrest. Boelter had links to evangelical ministries and said he was a security expert with experience in the Gaza Strip and Africa, according to his online postings and public records. A man who shared a house in Minneapolis with Boelter for a little more than a year, told Reuters he received a text from Boelter on Saturday. "He said that he might be dead soon," said David Carlson, who called police. Boelter was appointed in 2016 to the Governor's Workforce Development Board, state records show. The board "has a responsibility to advise the Governor on Minnesota's workforce system," according to its website. Asked if Boelter knew the Democrat lawmakers, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said: "We are still exploring that." "There's certainly some overlap with some public meetings, I will say, with Senator Hoffman and the individual. But we don't know the nature of the relationship or if they actually knew each other," he told reporters. Boelter listed himself as having no political party preference, however Carlson said Boelter voted for Trump, was a Christian and did not like abortion, though he added that the pair had not talked about the issue for a long time, adding: "He wasn't really angry about politics." In social media accounts, public records and websites reviewed by Reuters, Boelter described himself as a Christian minister, a security expert with experience in the Middle East and Africa, and a former employee of food service companies. He and his wife, Jennifer, also ran a security service called Praetorian Guard Security Services. Nonprofit tax filings show that Boelter and his wife ran a Christian ministry organisation called Revoformation. The most recent filing, in 2010, lists Boelter as president. After firing at police on Saturday, the suspect abandoned a vehicle in which officers found a "manifesto" and a list of other legislators and officials, law enforcement officials said. A manhunt is still underway for the suspect in the deadly shooting of a Minnesota state politician and the wounding of another, as details emerge of his background. Police say Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is suspected of killing Democratic Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Hortman - the senior Democratic and former assembly speaker in Minnesota - was remembered by Governor Tim Walz as someone with "grace, compassion, and tirelessness." Among issues she focused on were environmental causes, racial equality, reproductive rights and stricter gun control. Advocacy groups pointed to her support for police reforms after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. She helped advance a legislation that banned police choke holds. Walz described the shooting as a "politically motivated assassination. Former US Vice President Kamala Harris described Hortman as an "outstanding public servant." Harris added: "She passed legislation that enshrined freedoms and increased opportunity for the people of Minnesota. I saw her impact firsthand when I was with her in Minnesota." Walz said he was cautiously optimistic that Senator Hoffman and his wife would survive "this assassination attempt" as they underwent surgery. Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans' home shortly after 2 am, Champlin police said, and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds. After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to check on Hortman's home. There they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer at the door, leaving the house. "When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home" and escaped, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information that could lead to his arrest. Boelter had links to evangelical ministries and said he was a security expert with experience in the Gaza Strip and Africa, according to his online postings and public records. A man who shared a house in Minneapolis with Boelter for a little more than a year, told Reuters he received a text from Boelter on Saturday. "He said that he might be dead soon," said David Carlson, who called police. Boelter was appointed in 2016 to the Governor's Workforce Development Board, state records show. The board "has a responsibility to advise the Governor on Minnesota's workforce system," according to its website. Asked if Boelter knew the Democrat lawmakers, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said: "We are still exploring that." "There's certainly some overlap with some public meetings, I will say, with Senator Hoffman and the individual. But we don't know the nature of the relationship or if they actually knew each other," he told reporters. Boelter listed himself as having no political party preference, however Carlson said Boelter voted for Trump, was a Christian and did not like abortion, though he added that the pair had not talked about the issue for a long time, adding: "He wasn't really angry about politics." In social media accounts, public records and websites reviewed by Reuters, Boelter described himself as a Christian minister, a security expert with experience in the Middle East and Africa, and a former employee of food service companies. He and his wife, Jennifer, also ran a security service called Praetorian Guard Security Services. Nonprofit tax filings show that Boelter and his wife ran a Christian ministry organisation called Revoformation. The most recent filing, in 2010, lists Boelter as president. After firing at police on Saturday, the suspect abandoned a vehicle in which officers found a "manifesto" and a list of other legislators and officials, law enforcement officials said.
AsiaOne
12 hours ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Minnesota shooting suspect told friend in text message: I might be dead soon, World News
MINNEAPOLIS/NEW YORK/WASHINGTON -The suspect in the deadly shooting of a Minnesota state lawmaker and wounding of another had links to evangelical ministries and said he was a security expert with experience in the Gaza Strip and Africa, according to his online postings and public records. A manhunt was under way on Saturday (June 14) for Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who police said is a suspect in the killing of Democratic Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Police said the suspect had been seen earlier on Saturday wearing a light coloured cowboy hat, a dark coloured long sleeved collared shirt or coat with a dark bag. The FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 (S$64,060) for information that could lead to his arrest. 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 on Friday night. 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. Carlson, who has known Boelter since fourth grade, said Boelter worked for an eye donation centre 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." Boelter was appointed in 2016 to the Governor's Workforce Development Board, state records show. The board "has a responsibility to advise the Governor on Minnesota's workforce system," according to its website. Political anger? Asked if Boelter knew the lawmakers, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said: "We are still exploring that." "There's certainly some overlap with some public meetings, I will say, with Senator Hoffman and the individual. But we don't know the nature of the relationship or if they actually knew each other," he told reporters. Boelter listed himself as having no political party preference. On a LinkedIn post six years ago, Boelter urged Americans to vote and value the process: "If you believe in prayer, please keep the United States in your prayers." Carlson said Boelter voted for Trump, was a Christian and did not like abortion, though he added that the pair had not talked about the issue for a long time, adding: "He wasn't really angry about politics." In social media accounts, public records and websites reviewed by Reuters, Boelter described himself as a Christian minister, a security expert with experience in the Middle East and Africa, and a former employee of food service companies. Boelter said he was the chief executive of an organisation called the Red Lion Group, based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He and his wife, Jennifer, also ran a security service called Praetorian Guard Security Services LLC; Minnesota corporate records list her as a manager. The company website says it offers only armed guard security services, and Boelter wrote that he had been "involved with security situations in Eastern Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East, including the West Bank, Southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip." The claims could not be immediately verified. Police were aware of reports that Boelter owned a security company, Evans said. Looking for work Boelter wrote on LinkedIn a month ago that he was looking for work: "Hi everyone! I'm looking to get back into the US Food Industry and I'm pretty open to positions" in Texas, Minnesota, Florida and the Washington DC area. [[nid:614782]] Nonprofit tax filings show that Boelter and his wife ran a Christian ministry organisation called Revoformation. The most recent filing, in 2010, lists Boelter as president. On an archived version of the Revoformation web page from 2011, Boelter said he was ordained in 1993 as a minister, and had been raised in the small town of Sleepy Eye, about 100 miles southwest of Minneapolis. In his biography on that site, Boelter claimed to have made trips to "violent areas in the Gaza Strip and West Bank where suicide bombings were taking place." "He sought out militant Islamists in order to share the gospel and tell them that violence wasn't the answer," the biography says. Boelter said he went to St. Cloud State University, the now-closed Cardinal Stritch University and the Christ for the Nations Institute, a Bible college in Dallas. After firing at police on Saturday, the suspect abandoned a vehicle in which officers found a "manifesto" and a list of other legislators and officials, law enforcement officials said. Evans said police were still exploring what could have been the motivation for the shootings, adding: "It would be premature for me at this point to really say exactly what the motivation might be from these writings." Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the shooting "appears to be a politically motivated assassination."
Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Minnesota shooting suspect told friend in text message: I might be dead soon
MINNEAPOLIS/NEW YORK/WASHINGTON - The suspect in the deadly shooting of a Minnesota state lawmaker and wounding of another had links to evangelical ministries and said he was a security expert with experience in the Gaza Strip and Africa, according to his online postings and public records. A manhunt was under way on Saturday for Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who police said is a suspect in the killing of Democratic Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Police said the suspect had been seen earlier on Saturday wearing a light colored cowboy hat, a dark colored long sleeved collared shirt or coat with a dark bag. The FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information that could lead to his arrest. 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 on Friday night. 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. 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." Boelter was appointed in 2016 to the Governor's Workforce Development Board, state records show. The board "has a responsibility to advise the Governor on Minnesota's workforce system," according to its website. POLITICAL ANGER? Asked if Boelter knew the lawmakers, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said: "We are still exploring that." "There's certainly some overlap with some public meetings, I will say, with Senator Hoffman and the individual. But we don't know the nature of the relationship or if they actually knew each other," he told reporters. Boelter listed himself as having no political party preference. On a LinkedIn post six years ago, Boelter urged Americans to vote and value the process: "If you believe in prayer, please keep the United States in your prayers." Carlson said Boelter voted for Trump, was a Christian and did not like abortion, though he added that the pair had not talked about the issue for a long time, adding: "He wasn't really angry about politics." In social media accounts, public records and websites reviewed by Reuters, Boelter described himself as a Christian minister, a security expert with experience in the Middle East and Africa, and a former employee of food service companies. Boelter said he was the chief executive of an organization called the Red Lion Group, based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He and his wife, Jennifer, also ran a security service called Praetorian Guard Security Services LLC; Minnesota corporate records list her as a manager. The company website says it offers only armed guard security services, and Boelter wrote that he had been "involved with security situations in Eastern Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East, including the West Bank, Southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip." The claims could not be immediately verified. Police were aware of reports that Boelter owned a security company, Evans said. LOOKING FOR WORK Boelter wrote on LinkedIn a month ago that he was looking for work: "Hi everyone! I'm looking to get back into the U.S. Food Industry and I'm pretty open to positions" in Texas, Minnesota, Florida and the Washington DC area. Nonprofit tax filings show that Boelter and his wife ran a Christian ministry organization called Revoformation. The most recent filing, in 2010, lists Boelter as president. On an archived version of the Revoformation web page from 2011, Boelter said he was ordained in 1993 as a minister, and had been raised in the small town of Sleepy Eye, about 100 miles southwest of Minneapolis. In his biography on that site, Boelter claimed to have made trips to "violent areas in the Gaza Strip and West Bank where suicide bombings were taking place." "He sought out militant Islamists in order to share the gospel and tell them that violence wasn't the answer," the biography says. Boelter said he went to St. Cloud State University, the now-closed Cardinal Stritch University and the Christ for the Nations Institute, a Bible college in Dallas. After firing at police on Saturday, the suspect abandoned a vehicle in which officers found a "manifesto" and a list of other legislators and officials, law enforcement officials said. Evans said police were still exploring what could have been the motivation for the shootings, adding: "It would be premature for me at this point to really say exactly what the motivation might be from these writings." Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the shooting "appears to be a politically motivated assassination." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
