Latest news with #MinnesotaAfricansUnited
NBC News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Portrait of suspect in Minnesota 'politically motivated' shootings emerges amid massive manhunt
As a massive manhunt for Vance Boelter continues, authorities are piecing together a profile of the alleged gunman accused of killing a Democratic Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another in two separate 'politically motivated' shootings on Saturday morning. State Rep. Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park and her husband, Mark, were killed in one shooting, and State Sen. John Hoffman of Champlin and his wife, Yvette, were severely injured in another. Hoffman and his wife remain hospitalized. Officials say Boelter impersonated law enforcement in order to gain access to the lawmakers' homes. Photos, believed to be of Boelter, show a man at one of the victim's door wearing a long-sleeve shirt and what looks like a bulletproof vest similar to those worn by law enforcement. Another photo shows a man wearing a cowboy hat walking alone. Authorities found what they believe is his vehicle and cowboy hat in Sibley County, where an emergency alert has been issued for residents in the area to keep their doors locked and cars secured, NBC affiliate KARE 11 reported. He's married with five children Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson identified 57-year-old Boelter as the suspect in the shootings, describing him as 6-foot-1 with brown hair, wearing a light-colored cowboy hat and a dark long-sleeve collared shirt or coat. Jacobson urged the public not to approach Boelter if they see him, adding that he is "armed and dangerous." During a press briefing Saturday Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the shootings were "politically motivated." According to a video circulating online, Boelter is married and a father of five children. His wife, who has not been identified, was stopped by the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office Saturday morning in Onamia, Minnesota as part of a perimeter stop. There were "several other relatives," in the car, according to the sheriff's office and no one in the vehicle was questioned or searched. He worked in Africa In a 2022 video posted to Facebook and verified by NBC News, Minnesota Africans United featured a person introduced as Vance Boelter during a discussion about trade and investment opportunities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As a keynote presenter, Boelter said he was calling from the DRC, and spoke about his work partnering with farmers and fishermen in the country to help them stimulate their food supply system. In a statement shared with NBC News, a spokesperson for Minnesota Africans United said " there is no connection between Minnesota Africans United and the individual who carried out the assassinations and attacks" on Hortman, Hoffman and their spouses. He spoke at church sermons Boelter delivered church sermons in the DRC in 2021, 2022 and 2023, according to live streams posted to Facebook authenticated by NBC News. In 2021 speech, he began with a prayer and then spoke about his path to becoming a better Christian. Boelter recounted working in a vegetable-canning factory at age 17 with a coworker who "talked about God all the time," ultimately inspiring him to take his religion more seriously. At one point during his testimony, Boelter dropped to his knees as he described the moment he dedicated his life to Jesus. "And I said 'I'm so sorry, forgive me God, for living for myself, and not for you,'" he said. "And I said 'Jesus, if you forgive me of my sin and save me, I'll live for you for the rest of my life.'" He worked for two funeral homes In a resume-style video circulating online, Boelter introduces himself as a married father of five from Green Isle, Minnesota, who works for two funeral homes, Wulff Funeral Home and Metro First Call, handling what he called "removals." 'Fun fact about myself, I've been in the food industry about 30 years and that led to an opportunity. I was invited to the Democratic Republic of Congo,' he said in the video, adding that he worked with Del Monte Foods and Minnesota-based chicken producer Gold'n Plump. Boelter explained he left the food industry because his company 'wasn't interested in doing anything in Africa,' he then transitioned to the funeral home business while pursuing projects in Africa on his own. Boelter mentioned in the video that he was taking a course to learn more about the funeral industry, indicating it may have been taped for the class. The timing of the video, recorded using screen-recording software Screenpal, remains unclear. In a statement, Tim Koch, the owner of Metro First Call said Boelter worked for the company from August 2023 until he "voluntarily left" in February of this year. "To say anything more at this time would be irresponsible as the investigation continues," Koch said. He was described by a roommate as "a loving, caring guy" Boelter's roommate, who was not identified, spoke to NBC affiliate KARE 11 about him. "I mean, he was a loving, caring guy, you know," the man told the outlet. "Loved his family, loved his friends, and loved God, and I don't know why he did what he did. It's just, it's not Vance. No one will believe this." The roommate said he received a final message from Boelter around 6 a.m. Saturday in which he said he "may be dead shortly." "So, I just want to let you know that I love you guys both, and I wish it hadn't gone this way," the text, read by Boelter's tearful roommate, read. "I don't want to say anything more and implicate you in any way, because you guys don't know anything about this. But I love you guys, and I'm sorry for all the trouble this has caused." It is not clear at this time whether the roommate lived with Boelter and his family, or if Boelter had been living separately from his family with the roommate. Anyone who sees Boelter is encouraged to call 911. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to Boelter's arrest.
International Business Times
13 hours ago
- International Business Times
Who Is Jenny Boelter? Wife of Suspected Minnesota Assassin Vance Boelter Detained after Traffic Stop as Cops Find Multiple Passports, Weapon in Car
The wife of alleged political assassin Vance Boelter was detained and is currently being interrogated after police found a weapon, ammunition, cash, and passports in her car during a traffic stop on Saturday morning, according to a report. Jenny Boelter was pulled over by police around 10 a.m. on Saturday while traveling with several family members near Onamia, Minnesota, according to local outlet KTSP. In the car Jenny had a weapon, ammunition, cash, and multiple passports, according to law enforcement sources cited in the report. Two police vehicles remained at the scene for nearly two to three hours. Jenny was then taken in for questioning but was not formally arrested. Assassin's Wife Nabbed It remains unclear whether Vance and Jenny were living together, as Vance was known to live at a home in Camden, Minnesota, which was searched by SWAT teams on Saturday afternoon. The couple earlier ran a business together called Praetorian Guard Security. Jenny was the President and CEO of the firm, was billed as bringing "years of organizational operations and logistical oversight," according to the company's website. Vance Luther Boelter lists himself on LinkedIn as the CEO of the Red Lion Group, a company in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also worked with Minnesota Africans United, a statewide organization that supports African immigrants in Minnesota, according to a biography that has since been removed from the organization's website. A video from 2022 shows Boelter as a keynote speaker in his role as CEO of Red Lion Group at a seminar co-hosted by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Minnesota Africans United, and Global Minnesota. Boelter made the call from Moanda in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he discussed the Red Lion Group's projects and operations within the country. "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," Boetler said. The alleged gunman talked about launching multiple agricultural pilot programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which he said would "create a lot of jobs fast" and "serve as a model" for future investment in the country. He also said that he was involved in various business sectors across the DRC, including fishing, agriculture, media, security, and motorcycle taxi services. Still on the Run Minnesota Africans United told The New York Post that Boelter was never employed by them, never received any payments, and was never involved with the organization in any official or unofficial role. Disturbing images released by the FBI allegedly show Boelter wearing a creepy, Halloween-style latex mask resembling a bald, wrinkled man. A home security camera captured a snapshot of the masked figure dressed in what appeared to be a police uniform, holding a flashlight near his face while standing at the front door—possibly of one of the targeted legislators. Boelter, 57, is suspected of posing as a police officer during the attacks. He and his wife, Jenny, are believed to run Praetorian Guard Security Services, a Minnesota-based company that claims to offer personalized security solutions to protect people's homes and properties, according to its website. The company's site mentions that Boelter has been involved in various security operations across Eastern Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East—including areas such as the West Bank, Southern Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip. Last month, Boelter indicated that he was seeking new job opportunities. His employment history highlights more experience in the food industry than in security. According to his LinkedIn profile, Boelter worked as a general manager at 7-Eleven from 2016 to 2021. He also held managerial positions at Del Monte, Johnsonville Sausage, and Greencore, a company based in the UK that produces ready-to-eat foods. Boelter was appointed twice to state roles in Minnesota by Democratic governors. In 2016, then-Governor Mark Dayton appointed him to the Workforce Development Council. Three years later, in 2019, Governor Tim Walz selected him to serve a four-year term on the Workforce Development Board, according to official records. Boelter last registered as a Republican voter in 2022. In a LinkedIn post dated November 5, 2018, he urged others to vote in the upcoming presidential election and shared concerns about its possible results. "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," he wrote. "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." Boelter completed his undergraduate studies in international relations at St. Cloud State University according to his LinkedIn profile. He later earned a Master of Science in Management and a Doctorate in Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University. Law enforcement is desperately looking for Boelter, who remains at large after allegedly shooting State Senator John Hoffman and his wife inside their Champlin home early Saturday morning, leaving them both in critical condition. He then proceeded to the home of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, where he is believed to have fatally shot her and her husband. The suspect reportedly exchanged gunfire with officers who arrived at Hortman's home and was briefly trapped inside, but ultimately managed to slip away. Authorities say he left behind a "manifesto" that included the names of 70 politicians—among them Walz—as well as a stack of documents bearing the phrase "No Kings," a reference to the nationwide anti-Trump demonstrations that took place Saturday.
International Business Times
16 hours ago
- International Business Times
Vance Luther Boelter: Minnesota Mad Who Killed Lawmaker and Shot Another Runs Security Company and Ties to Africa and Middle East
The Minnesota man wanted in connection with the Saturday morning killing of a state legislator and the shooting of another runs a security agency and reportedly has links to the Middle East and Africa, his online biographies showed. Vance Luther Boelter lists himself on LinkedIn as the CEO of the Red Lion Group, a company in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also worked with Minnesota Africans United, a statewide organization that supports African immigrants in Minnesota, according to a biography that has since been removed from the organization's website. This came as Boelter remained on the run after slipping out if the hands of cops after the two killings. Deep Ties with Middle East and Africa A video from 2022 shows Boelter as a keynote speaker in his role as CEO of Red Lion Group at a seminar co-hosted by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Minnesota Africans United, and Global Minnesota. Boelter made the call from Moanda in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he discussed the Red Lion Group's projects and operations within the country. "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," Boetler said. The alleged gunman talked about launching multiple agricultural pilot programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which he said would "create a lot of jobs fast" and "serve as a model" for future investment in the country. He also said that he was involved in various business sectors across the DRC, including fishing, agriculture, media, security, and motorcycle taxi services. "We're partnering with 400 farmers who are ready to go on a farming project... we're doing a fishing project that works with like 500 off the coast of Rwanda," Boelter claimed in a quintessential Minnesota accent. "Another one that we're looking at doing is a totally women led motorcycle-taxi business, where all the operators are women, and the leadership is women, so we're excited to get that off the ground," Boelter stated, according to the video. "I would like to get 1,000 female motorcycle-taxis running in the near future but we need some sponsors to invest in that," the suspected assassin said. Assassin on the Run Minnesota Africans United told The New York Post that Boelter was never employed by them, never received any payments, and was never involved with the organization in any official or unofficial role. Disturbing images released by the FBI allegedly show Boelter wearing a creepy, Halloween-style latex mask resembling a bald, wrinkled man. A home security camera captured a snapshot of the masked figure dressed in what appeared to be a police uniform, holding a flashlight near his face while standing at the front door—possibly of one of the targeted legislators. Boelter, 57, is suspected of posing as a police officer during the attacks. He and his wife, Jenny, are believed to run Praetorian Guard Security Services, a Minnesota-based company that claims to offer personalized security solutions to protect people's homes and properties, according to its website. The company's site mentions that Boelter has been involved in various security operations across Eastern Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East—including areas such as the West Bank, Southern Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip. Last month, Boelter indicated that he was seeking new job opportunities. His employment history highlights more experience in the food industry than in security. According to his LinkedIn profile, Boelter worked as a general manager at 7-Eleven from 2016 to 2021. He also held managerial positions at Del Monte, Johnsonville Sausage, and Greencore, a company based in the UK that produces ready-to-eat foods. Boelter was appointed twice to state roles in Minnesota by Democratic governors. In 2016, then-Governor Mark Dayton appointed him to the Workforce Development Council. Three years later, in 2019, Governor Tim Walz selected him to serve a four-year term on the Workforce Development Board, according to official records. Boelter last registered as a Republican voter in 2022. In a LinkedIn post dated November 5, 2018, he urged others to vote in the upcoming presidential election and shared concerns about its possible results. "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," he wrote. "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." Boelter completed his undergraduate studies in international relations at St. Cloud State University according to his LinkedIn profile. He later earned a Master of Science in Management and a Doctorate in Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University. Law enforcement is desperately looking for Boelter, who remains at large after allegedly shooting State Senator John Hoffman and his wife inside their Champlin home early Saturday morning, leaving them both in critical condition. He then proceeded to the home of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, where he is believed to have fatally shot her and her husband.
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Vance Boelter: What we know about alleged Minnesota assassin's ties to Middle East and Africa
Minnesota shooter Vance Luther Boelter's online biographies show that he runs a security company and has ties to the Middle East and Africa. On LinkedIn, Boelter lists himself as the CEO of the Red Lion Group, based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Boelter is on the loose and is being sought in connection to several shootings, including that of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in their Champlin home early Saturday, June 14, leaving them seriously injured. He then went to former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortmon's house, where he allegedly killed her and her husband, police sources told the New York Post. Besides his association with the Red Lion Group, Boelter claimed to have worked with Minnesota Africans United too, an organization known for working with African immigrants in the state, according to a now-deleted biography on the group's website. However, Minnesota Africans United told the New York Post that they never hired, paid, or contracted Boetler, and that he never served in the organization, neither in an official nor an unofficial capacity. Boelter and his wife, Jenny, appear to head Praetorian Guard Security Services, a Minnesota-based company 'here to set up security options and provide security services right to your doorstep and property to keep what you own safe and secure,' per its website. According to the website, Boelter has 'been involved in security situations' in Eastern Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East, 'including the West Bank, Southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.' Meanwhile, a video surfacing on Facebook shows Boelter speaking at a seminar held jointly by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Minnesota Africans United and Global Minnesota. One video on Facebook shows Boelter participating as a keynote speaker in his capacity as CEO of Red Lion Group for the seminar in 2022. He conducted the call from Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and spoke of the Red Lion Group's ventures in the African nation.
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Vance Boelter seen speaking at Democratic Republic of the Congo's seminar, videos surface
As police seek to arrest Minnesota assassin Vance Luther Boelter, videos that have surfaced on social media show him speaking at a seminar held jointly by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Minnesota Africans United and Global Minnesota. Boelter is being sought in connection to several shootings, including that of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in their Champlin home early Saturday, June 14, leaving them seriously injured. He then went to former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortmon's house, where he allegedly killed her and her husband, police sources told the New York Post. One video on Facebook shows Boelter participating as a keynote speaker in his capacity as CEO of Red Lion Group for the seminar in 2022. He conducted the call from Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and spoke of the Red Lion Group's ventures in the African nation. On LinkedIn, he lists himself as the CEO of the Red Lion Group, based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. '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,' Boetler said in the video. Boelter also spoke about plans for various agricultural pilot projects in the DRC, saying he believed they would 'create a lot of jobs fast' and 'serve as a model' for future investors into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He also claimed he has business ventures in fishing, farming, media, security, and motorcycle-taxis within the Democratic Republic of Congo. 'We're partnering with 400 farmers who are ready to go on a farming project… we're doing a fishing project that works with like 500 fishermans…that's off the coast of Rwanda,' Boelter said. 'Another one that we're looking at doing is a totally women led motorcycle-taxi business, where all the operators are women, and the leadership is women, so we're excited to get that off the ground,' he added. 'I would like to get 1,000 female motorcycle-taxis running in the near future but we need some sponsors to invest in that,' the suspected assassin further said. Another video surfacing on X shows Boelter 'preaching to a congregation at an evangelical church in Matadi.' Take a look: Police are now on the lookout for Boelter, who escaped after carrying out the shootings. Heleft behind a manifesto listing the names of 70 politicians, including Tim Walz.
