The ongoing investigation surrounding Minnesota shooting suspect Vance Luther Boelter has churned out even more concerning developments. Law enforcement said that the 57-year-old fatally shot former Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their home early Saturday morning. The US man is also said to have severely injured Sen John Hoffman and wife, Yvette, in a separate shooting incident just miles away from Hortman’s residence.
Minnesota suspect targeted a total of 4 lawmakers’ homes
As it turns out, officials believe that he, in fact, intended to target even more lawmakers in what is being perceived as an attempted “political assassination” rampage. Authorities have since revealed that in addition to showing up at Hortman and Hoffman’s homes in Minnesota, the suspect also went to the house of two other legislators at the time, harbouring potential plans to assassinate them as well.
Dozens of names have been revealed to be included in “hit list,” as the police are calling it. Although Boelter was ultimately arrested near his farm in Green Isle after a day of manhunt, Attorney for the District of Minnesota Joseph Thompson said the Minnesota man “stalked his victims like prey.”
Who was on Vance Boelter’s hit-list? Charges revealed here
Thompson disclosed that a list of 45 elected officials was found in notebooks in a car associated with Vance Boelter. It allegedly also had firearms. His unsettling FBI Most Wanted poster and security camera footage showed assassination suspect in black tactical vest and body armor, posing as a cop. He was also seen wearing a “hyper-realistic silicon mask,” with a flashlight in his hand as he knocked on a lawmaker’s front door. Attorney for the District of Minnesota added that Boelter allegedly shouted, “This is the police, open the door!”
Boelter is facing federal charges including stalking and firearm charges and state charges including first-degree murder, as per ABC’s report. On Monday, he appeared in federal court in St Paul. As he said that he could not afford an attorney, a federal public defender was assigned to his case. A hearing has been tentatively scheduled for June 27.
India-born congressman named in Minnesota assassination suspect’s alleged hit-list
Several other lawmakers have also publicly revealed that the law enforcement informed them about their names being on Vance Boelter’s alleged “hit list.” It includes Democrats Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, Reps Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison.
India-born American Rep Shri Thanedar took to his X that the Capitol Police and the FBI had intimated him about his name making to the list. “Due to the suspect’s capture and information provided by law enforcement, I do not feel that I or my staff are in immediate danger; however, we are taking precautions to ensure our safety and well-being,” he wrote on X. “The heinous crimes the shooter allegedly committed are unequivocally politically motivated and should be condemned by everyone across the political spectrum. There is no place for political violence in a democracy.”
Michigan’s Hillary Scholten even had to postpone a town hall slated for Monday. Numerous reports indicated the alleged “hit list” also name-dropped Greg Landsman, Joyce Beatty, Gwen Moore, Tammy Baldwin, Joaquin Castro, and Veronica Escobar, among others. Additionally, abortion providers are believed to have made it to Boelter’s “hit list” as well.