Suspected Offender Identified as Vance Luther Boelter from Minnesota
Turns Out, Vance Luther Boelter - the Suspected Minnesota Shooter
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, a politician and her husband were brutally shot to death, and another politician and his wife were mercilessly attacked. After an exhaustive manhunt, the suspected shooter, Vance Luther Boelter, was apprehended. Here's what we've gathered about this 57-year-old individual.
Following Minnesota's largest manhunt, the prime suspect in the tragic shootings of a politician and her husband is captured. Sheriffs nicknamed the arrest photo of Boelter - "The Face of Evil."
Politics - Minnesota Politician Assassination Attempt
Initial findings from investigators suggest that Boelter donned a police officer's guise, wearing a uniform, vest, and terrifying mask during his lethal attack in a suburb north of Minnesota. He drove a vehicle disguised as a police car with flashing lights.
At the crack of dawn on a Saturday (local time), Boelter allegedly shot and killed Democratic Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark at their residence in Brooklyn Park. In a nearby Champlin, he reportedly shot Democratic Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, leaving them in critical condition but now out of danger.
Imaginative Pretensions
Boelter resided just outside Green Isle, a Minnesota town of approximately 600 residents, roughly an hour southwest of the Twin Cities, according to Mayor Shane Sheets of USA Today. While unconnected to any political party, Boelter had registered as a Republican voter in 2022. Local media outlets have labeled him an evangelical Christian due to his online presence, where he spoke against abortion and completed missionary work.
Online Deception - A Closer Look
Online, Boelter portrayed himself as a security expert who had worked for global corporations. In his social media posts and websites, he boasted of having substantial experience as a security expert and having been "trained by both private security firms and the U.S. military." Nevertheless, U.S. media couldn't confirm his claims. In actuality, he had spent most of his career in the restaurant industry.
A lifelong friend, David Carlson, admitted parts of Boelter's life story were "imagination." In an interview with Fox News 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, he stated, "He was always fascinated by military matters." On the Praetorian Guard Security Services, LLC website, Boelter claimed to be a member of the "leadership team." However, the company seems devoid of clients, and the contact information led to a private residence. According to Carlson, Boelter had indeed aspired to open a security firm and had bought police vehicles to use for his company later. Unfortunately, the project never materialized. Acquaintances also report financial difficulties.
Death List - Possible Ideological Motives
Politically Motivated AttacksDrew Evans, head of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) in Minnesota, announced that they will look into Boelter's background. "We're working on it at full speed," said Evans, acknowledging that Boelter left a written message that has been secured by law enforcement and not yet revealed.
Law enforcement agents discovered a list containing the names of numerous public officials in Boelter's vehicle, alongside a large quantity of ammunition. According to US broadcaster CNN, the list includes politicians from Minnesota and other states, as well as supporters of abortion rights and reproductive health clinics. Media outlets refer to it as a "hit list" with over 70 names.
Boelter and Hoffman served together on the Workforce Development Board from 2019 to 2023. The 60-member committee advises the governor unpaid and nonpartisan on matters related to the labor market system and workforce development. However, it's unclear to what extent their personal relationship extended beyond their shared role. There doesn't seem to be a direct connection to Hortman. According to the New York Times, she played a central role in 2023 in implementing laws that expanded abortion rights, legalized marijuana for recreational use, and required employers to offer paid sick leave.
Governor Walz described the acts as deliberately militant murders on Sunday evening. The targeted selection of victims and the preparation suggest a premeditated, politically motivated assault on democratic politicians and their entourage, according to several U.S. media outlets, citing law enforcement sources. Investigators are investigating whether radicalization or pent-up resentment towards current political decisions, particularly concerning abortion rights or immigration policy, played a role in the attacks. Also, flyers were found in Boelter's vehicle that bear the protest slogan "No Kings," which might signify a general rejection of political elites or specific political developments.
- The captured suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, who was involved in a series of politically motivated attacks in Minnesota, claimed online to be a security expert trained by private firms and the US military, but media could not confirm these claims.
- Investigators are examining Boelter's background, including a "hit list" containing the names of numerous public officials, found in his vehicle, as they investigate possible ideological motives, such as radicalization or resentment towards current political decisions, particularly concerning abortion rights or immigration policy.
