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CBS News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Sen. John Hoffman calls daughter his "hero" in first interview since lawmaker shootings
A survivor of the Minnesota lawmaker attacks is speaking out in his first interview since the shootings that shocked the country. Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman talked about the rehab process for him and his wife on "The Al Travis Show" Monday. The Champlin lawmaker was released from the ICU two weeks ago. His wife, Yvette, is also still recovering. The couple was shot 17 times by a man impersonating an officer at their front door, with their daughter Hope right beside them. The senator said her call to police likely saved lives. "When she dialed 911, she was a hero, man," John Hoffman said. "There's people alive because of how she said, you know, something on 911 that was just, but she was, you know, very much in charge. Grateful, grateful for her big time." Vance Boelter is charged with shooting the Hoffmans and killing former Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman inside her Brooklyn Park home. Her husband Mark was also killed, and their dog, Gilbert, was later euthanized for his gunshot injuries. A special election is in the works to fill her seat, and Tuesday is the last day for candidates to file. Brooklyn Park Councilman Christian Eriksen announced his intention to run earlier this month. He was elected to the City Council in 2022. Other DFL candidates include XP Lee and Erickson Saye. So far, there's at least one Republican candidate running, Ruth Bittner. The special election will be held on Sept. 16.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota shooting victims John, Yvette Hoffman detail 'horrific night'
Sen. John Hoffman, shot alongside his wife at their Minnesota home nearly a week ago, in what officials deemed as "targeted," released a statement detailing the married couple's version of what happened during the violent break-in that left them hospitalized. Under the cover of night, on the early morning of June 14, a gunman gained access to the couple's Champlin home, shot the Democratic lawmaker, and then shot his wife. Police said Yvette Hoffman survived. Her husband, shot nine times, remained in critical condition on June 19, a spokesperson for the hospital system treating him told KARE 11. She was released from the hospital on Thursday, June 19, according to the Minneapolis-based TV station. USA TODAY is not identifying the hospital for safety and privacy reasons. A reporter contacted the hospital for more information, but has not received a response. Another lawmaker in Minnesota, state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were also shot that same day at their home, Brooklyn Park Police officials said. Law enforcement discovered their bodies on Saturday, June 14. Following an intense manhunt, law enforcement on June 15 arrested Vance Luther Boelter, 57, in connection with both shootings. He faces state and federal murder charges, including multiple counts of murder and stalking. Gov. Tim Walz has publicly called the killings a political assassination. Now, days after the shootings, John and Yvette Hoffman are detailing that "horrific night." 'I'm going to be honest': North Dakota man charged with threatening official in email citing Minnesota shootings According to the statement from John and Yvette Hoffman, shared with USA TODAY, the couple had attended the Humphrey Mondale dinner on Friday, June 13, and returned home that night with their adult daughter, Hope. At around 2 a.m., the couple was awakened by the "sounds of pounding on the front door and shouts of someone seeking entry," the statement reads. The individual identified himself as a police officer, and when the couple opened the door, all three of them were in the entryway, the statement continues. John Hoffman "initially lunged at the gunman as the weapon was pointed directly at him," leading to him being "struck nine times," according to the statement. As he fell, his wife reached out to push the gunman and shut the door, succeeding before she was also "hit eight times by gunfire," the statement continues. Hope Hoffman then rushed to shut the door and secure the lock before calling 911 and sharing that her dad had been shot in his home, the statement reads. "Her brave actions and quick thinking triggered the notice to public safety officials that a politically-motivated act was potentially underway," the statement says about Hope. The couple, which continues to receive medical care, said in the statement that they're "deeply grateful for those providers, for the first responders and for all those in law enforcement who worked so quickly, professionally and selflessly to safeguard others and to apprehend the shooter." The statement also mentions the murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman, saying: "We are heartbroken to know that our friends Melissa and Mark Hortman were assassinated. Our daughter Hope and Sophie Hortman went to school together, and we know that they - along with Colin Hortman - will have each other's support as we all work through the devastating consequences of that horrific night." The couple also thanked those at the Fernbrook Elementary School in Maple Grove, Minnesota, for the GoFundMe page that will help them "pick up the broken pieces of (their) lives." "We are uplifted by the prayers and support from so many across the state of Minnesota and the country: thank you," the statement reads. The statement also speaks on the risk of being a public servant in today's society, saying: "Choosing to work in the public sector, even in as limited a way as John's career as a senator, has always meant sacrificing a level of privacy. But now we are grappling with the reality that we live in a world where public service carries such risks as being targeted because someone disagrees with you or doesn't like what you stand for." "As a society, as a nation, as a community, we must work together to return to a level of civility that allows us all to live peacefully. The future for our children depends on that," the statement continues. "We will be praying for that work and appreciate all those who will join with us." USA TODAY contacted Hoffman's office on June 20 but has not received a response. Boelter visited the homes of two other state officials the morning he launched a targeted "political assassination," Joseph Thompson, the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota, said. Boelter drove to the houses of the other state officials after he shot and wounded John Hoffman and his wife. Police arrested Boelter on June 15 in rural Sibley County, some 50 miles from Minneapolis, after they accused him of fatally shooting Hortman and her husband in their home. The suspect also targeted several other lawmakers in the Midwest, prosecutors said. According to a 20-page court affidavit released June 17, detailing the violent and deadly crime spree, FBI Agent Terry Getsceh wrote the suspect meant to 'kill, injure, harass and intimidate'' more than 45 Minnesota state and federal officials whose names and addresses he had researched. Investigators say Boelter "extensively researched" and planned the June 14 attack. 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, court documents filed in federal court show. Contributing: Rebecca Morin, Christopher Cann, Susan Miller and Jorge L. Ortiz Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minnesota shooting victims offer statement detailing 'horrific night'
CNN
16-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Federal indictment reveals new details about the case against man accused in killing of former Minnesota House speaker
(CNN) — A Minnesota man was indicted Tuesday on federal charges related to the killing of a state lawmaker and her spouse, and seriously injuring another state lawmaker and his wife. Vance Boelter is accused of killing former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and seriously injuring Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife last month. He faces six charges including stalking, murder and firearms offenses – with at least two of those charges carrying the possibility of the death penalty, Acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson said during a news conference Tuesday. The final decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be up to US Attorney General Pam Bondi. CNN has reached out to Boelter's attorney for comment. Boelter also 'shot at and attempted to kill' the Hoffmans' daughter, Thompson said. 'Both John and Yvette acted with incredible bravery to put themselves between Boelter's bullets and their daughter, miraculously, Hope Hoffman was not shot,' he added. Authorities have also recovered both of the guns used that day in the incident, Thompson said. They also found a handwritten letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel inside a car Boelter abandoned in Green Isle, Minnesota, before his capture, Thompson said. In the letter, he said, Boelter confesses to shooting the Hoffmans and Hortmans among other claims. Boelter wrote he was trained by the US military off the books and conducted missions on their behalf in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Boelter also claimed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz wanted him to kill Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. He wanted nothing to do with the plan, he wrote, and would go public with governor's request. Authorities say Boelter was heavily armed and dressed in tactical armor with a silicone mask hiding his face and a police-style badge during the incidents – appearing as a police officer. A real police officer mistook him for a fellow cop. Boelter 'embarked on a planned campaign of stalking and violence, designed to inflict fear, injure, and kill members of the Minnesota state legislature and their families,' according to an affidavit. Authorities say the attacks were highly planned. Boelter possibly spent months gathering personal information about his targets and other officials, and buying supplies for his attack, they said. Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman was more than just the state House's top Democrat, according to those who knew her. She 'was a bright shining light of a human being,' Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who went to law school with Hortman, said in a post on X. Hortman was also a 'formidable public servant,' Walz said. Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman – who was shot nine times – has since been released from a hospital intensive care unit and moved into a rehabilitation facility to continue his recovery from the politically-motivated attack in June, a family spokesperson told CNN earlier this month. Though the family acknowledges that Hoffman 'still has a long recovery ahead,' spokesperson Bess Ellenson shared a photo showing the senator looking upbeat, smiling, and flashing a thumbs up as he stands in front of a hospital room door with a rolling suitcase. Hoffman's wife, Yvette who was shot eight times, was released from the hospital on June 19, CNN affiliate KARE reported. In a statement Tuesday, John and Yvette Hoffman's daughter, Hope, said she was relieved to hear Boelter would be held responsible. 'Though I was not shot physically, I will now forever coexist with the PTSD of watching my parents be nearly shot dead in front of me and seeing my life flash before my eyes with a gun in my face,' she said. 'My parents pushed me out of the way that night. I was pretty bruised up from getting hurled against our washer, and I'm glad I was. How I didn't get grazed is nothing short of dumb luck.' This story has been updated with additional details.
Fox News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Federal grand jury indicts suspect accused of targeting Minnesota lawmakers in deadly shooting spree
A federal grand jury has formally indicted Vance Boelter on six federal charges for the shootings that left one Minnesota lawmaker and her husband dead and a second lawmaker and his wife injured. "Vance Boelter planned and carried out a night of terror that shook Minnesota to its core," acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said in a statement. "He carried out targeted political assassinations the likes of which have never been seen in Minnesota." Boelter, 57, has been charged with stalking and murdering former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their home in Minneapolis last month. He also is charged with stalking and shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, and for attempting to shoot their daughter, Hope, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota. Boelter, who allegedly conducted extensive research prior to the attacks, could potentially face life in prison or the death penalty. Authorities allege Boelter impersonated a member of law enforcement on June 14 and then went to the homes of the Democratic elected officials with the intention of murdering them. Boelter first went to the home of the Hoffmans in Champlin, Minnesota, where he allegedly shot Senator Hoffman and his wife repeatedly. Prosecutors say he also attempted to shoot their daughter, Hope, according to the news release. After that, he allegedly drove to the homes of two other elected officials but discovered no one was home. Boelter then allegedly went to the home of Melissa Hortman and her husband, where he is accused of repeatedly shooting and killing them. The shootings sparked a two-day manhunt, ending with Boelter's capture in nearby Sibley County. "I feel relief today in knowing that the perpetrator of these heinous acts will be charged to the fullest extent of the law," Hope Hoffman said in a statement. "Though I was not shot physically, I will now forever coexist with the PTSD of watching my parents be nearly shot dead in front of me and seeing my life flash before my eyes with a gun in my face." The indictment comes shortly after Boelter spoke out about the alleged killings in a jailhouse interview, looking to eliminate certain theories surrounding the motivations behind the attacks. "You are fishing and I can't talk about my case," Vance Boelter wrote to the New York Post from the Sherburne County Jail last week. "I'll say it didn't involve either the Trump stuff or pro-life." "I am pro-life personaly [sic] but it wasn't those," he reportedly said in a message sent from the jail's internal messaging system. "I will just say there is a lot of information that will come out in future that people will look at and judge for themselves that goes back 24 months before the 14th. If the gov ever let's [sic] it get out." The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Washington Post
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Alleged Minnesota shooter confessed to killings in letter to FBI director
A man accused of fatally shooting a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband in what authorities have alleged was part of a larger plot to stalk and kill politicians confessed to the shootings in a handwritten letter found in his purported getaway car and claimed he had been acting on secret orders from the governor. 'I am the shooter at large in Minnesota involved in the two shootings,' Vance Boelter allegedly wrote in the letter, which was addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel and recovered June 15 inside a car found near his home and near where he was subsequently arrested. The details were made public Tuesday by federal prosecutors as they announced that a grand jury had formally indicted Boelter, 57, on enhanced murder charges tied to the June 14 killing of state Rep. Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, Mark. Boelter, from Green Isle, Minnesota, also stands accused of shooting state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife. Both were seriously wounded when they opened their door in the middle of the night to a man disguised as a police officer who then opened fire. The fresh indictment charges Boelter with the attempted murders of Hoffman, his wife, Yvette, and their daughter, Hope. In the letter, Boelter allegedly wrote that he had been secretly trained by the U.S. military and had participated in secret overseas missions 'all in the line of what I thought was doing right and was in the best interest of the United States.' The letter claimed he had been 'approached' by Gov. Tim Walz (D) and ordered kill the state's two U.S. senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, because 'Tim wants to be senator.' Asked for comment on the letter, a spokesman for Walz said 'the tragedy continues to be deeply disturbing for all Minnesotans.' The letter claims that Boelter didn't want to participate but did so after someone threatened his family and that he later killed people who were part of the alleged plot. But acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson, whose office is leading the federal case against Boelter, said it was unclear if the rambling note was the gunman's attempt to implicate the Hortmans and Hoffmans. He described it as fantasy. 'Was it a delusion that he believes, or was it a delusion that is designed as an effort to misdirect our investigation or to, frankly, excuse his crimes? Well, that's a good question,' Thompson said at a news conference. 'It certainly seems designed to excuse his crimes.' In announcing the new charges, Thompson said he had decided to make public a photo of the letter and other evidence to be as 'transparent as possible in this case, in light of the legitimate public interest.' The attack has already spurred conspiracy theories about the gunman's motivations. 'It's been a terrible personal tragedy for the Hoffman and Hortman families, and it's something that has rocked the entire state of Minnesota and even the country,' Thompson said. The indictment comes nearly two weeks after Boelter appeared in a federal courtroom in St. Paul, waiving his right to a bond and probable cause hearing on his initial charges and agreeing to remain in jail until trial. He was doing so to speed up the process and reveal 'the truth' about what happened on June 14, he said. Boelter's alleged letter is likely to spur questions about his competency. Manny Atwal, a public defender appointed last month to represent him in the federal case, declined to say whether she planned to seek a mental health evaluation for her client. In an email, she said Tuesday's developments would 'allow me to evaluate the case.' He is expected back in court this week to be formally arraigned on the new charges. 'Mr. Boelter will be pleading not guilty,' Atwal said. Prosecutors have alleged Boelter shot the Hoffmans and then traveled in a vehicle disguised as a police SUV to the addresses of at least two other state lawmakers who weren't home. He then went to Hortman's Brooklyn Park home, where local police conducting a welfare check on the former House speaker saw him fatally shoot her husband, according to prosecutors. After officers opened fire, the gunman fled into the home, fatally shot Hortman and fled out a back door. As the investigation continues, Thompson reaffirmed Tuesday that authorities still do not have a clear motive but believe Boelter acted alone. He said notebooks found inside Boelter's fake police vehicle listed names of numerous elected officials from Minnesota and other states, primarily Democrats. They also listed lawyers from national legal firms, he added. In Tuesday's indictment, federal prosecutors included a notice of 'special findings,' suggesting Boelter should qualify for the death penalty if convicted in the Hortmans' killings. But Thompson said the decision, which ultimately will be made by Attorney General Pam Bondi, was 'many months' off.
