SHOCKING MINNESOTA SHOOTING ARREST! 😱
Vance Boelter, caught after targeting lawmakers, sent a chilling message.
What did he say before the deadly attacks?
Click to uncover the disturbing truth! 👉
On June 14, 2025, Minnesota was rocked by a violent attack that claimed the lives of State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and left State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, critically injured. The suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, a 57-year-old from Green Isle, was arrested on June 15 after a massive two-day manhunt, accused of posing as a police officer to carry out what authorities call a “politically motivated assassination.” Before the shootings, Boelter sent a haunting text to his roommates, hinting at his intentions: “I love you guys, I made some choices. I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly.” This message, reported widely, sheds light on his mindset, but no post-arrest statement has surfaced, leaving the phrase “This is what he said” tied to his pre-attack words. This article examines Boelter’s arrest, his chilling text, the context of the shootings, and the broader implications of this tragedy.
The Minnesota Shootings: A Targeted Attack
The attacks began around 2:00 AM on June 14, 2025, in Champlin, Minnesota, when Boelter, allegedly disguised as a police officer, shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, multiple times at their home. Hoffman’s child called 911, reporting the shooting, and Yvette, who took eight bullets shielding their daughter, survived, as did Hoffman, who suffered a collapsed lung. Around 3:35 AM, police proactively checked on Representative Melissa Hortman in nearby Brooklyn Park, finding a fake police SUV with emergency lights in her driveway. Boelter, exiting the home, fired at officers, who returned fire, but he fled on foot, leaving the vehicle behind. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were found dead inside, killed in what Governor Tim Walz described as a deliberate act of political violence targeting Democratic lawmakers.
The shootings, occurring in Democratic strongholds north of Minneapolis, stunned the state. Hortman, a 20-year House veteran and former Speaker, was remembered as a dedicated public servant, with a makeshift memorial of flowers and signs at the State Capitol. Hoffman, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party like Hortman, was recovering, with Yvette texting Senator Amy Klobuchar that they were “incredibly lucky to be alive.” The attacks, labeled “targeted” by authorities, came amid rising political tensions, with Boelter’s vehicle containing a list of over 70 names, including prominent Democrats like Walz, Representative Ilhan Omar, and Senator Tina Smith, alongside “No Kings” protest fliers opposing the Trump administration. web:5,18
Boelter’s Arrest: The End of a Manhunt
The manhunt for Boelter, described as Minnesota’s largest, involved over 100 officers, SWAT teams, K-9 units, and a state helicopter across multiple counties. On June 15, police found his black sedan in Sibley County, 50 miles from the crime scenes, prompting a public alert to lock doors. That evening, a tip led authorities to a wooded area near Green Isle, where Boelter, armed but cooperative, crawled to SWAT teams and surrendered peacefully at 9:12 PM, ending a 43-hour search. Charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, he was taken to an undisclosed facility for questioning, with no reported post-arrest statement. Authorities recovered three AK-47 rifles, a 9-mm handgun, and the target list from his fake police SUV, confirming his heavy armament. web:2,12,18
Boelter’s text to roommates, sent around 6:00 AM on June 14, was a critical clue. David Carlson, a friend and roommate, reported receiving the message, which read, “I love you guys, I made some choices. I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly.” Carlson, speaking to reporters, alerted police, describing the text as Boelter’s acknowledgment of drastic actions. The message, suggesting premeditation, aligns with the “This is what he said” framing, as no other direct quotes from Boelter have emerged. The text’s tone, mixing affection with fatalism, hints at a calculated plan, though his exact motives remain under investigation. web:8,9,20
Who Was Vance Boelter?
Boelter, a St. Cloud State University graduate, presented himself online as a security expert with military training, working for Praetorian Guard Security Services as director of security patrols. However, investigations revealed much of this was exaggerated. His career primarily spanned food service, including roles as general manager for a 7-Eleven, a gas station, and a food distributor in Shakopee. He also worked in mortuary services, assisting at crime scenes, and took online mortuary science classes in 2023–2024. Friends, like Carlson, dismissed his security claims as “fantasy,” noting he owned police-style SUVs for a never-launched security firm. Boelter’s evangelical Christian beliefs led him to Africa, where he preached in the Democratic Republic of Congo, criticizing American morals on sexual orientation but not directly targeting abortion rights or lawmakers. web:8,11,13
Appointed to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board in 2016 by Governor Mark Dayton and reappointed by Tim Walz in 2019, Boelter served alongside Hoffman, though their relationship is unclear. The board, with over 60 members, advises on workforce policies, and their overlap in public meetings was noted, but no personal connection was confirmed. Boelter’s LinkedIn urged voting in 2018, but his social media avoided overt political rants, though a friend described him as a conservative opposed to abortion rights. The target list, naming Democrats and abortion rights advocates, suggests a political motive, possibly tied to Hortman’s recent vote supporting a Republican bill to limit state-funded healthcare for undocumented migrants, which sparked controversy. web:7,10,14
The Target List and Political Context
The target list, found in Boelter’s fake police SUV, included over 70 names, predominantly Minnesota Democrats, abortion rights advocates, and Planned Parenthood leaders. Notable figures like Walz, Omar, Smith, and Attorney General Keith Ellison were listed, alongside lawmakers from states like Wisconsin and Illinois. Fliers for “No Kings” protests, planned for June 14 to oppose Trump’s policies, were also recovered, leading to the cancellation of Minnesota rallies. The list’s scope raised fears of broader attacks, though authorities believe Boelter acted alone, with no evidence of accomplices. The “No Kings” connection and Hortman’s vote fueled speculation about motives, but police cautioned against premature conclusions, noting the list lacked explicit threats. web:6,9,18
X posts reflect polarized sentiment. One user labeled Boelter a “far-right extremist” targeting Democrats, while another claimed he was a “deranged leftist” tied to Walz, citing his board appointment. These conflicting narratives, unverified by evidence, highlight the case’s divisive impact. Governor Walz, at a June 15 press conference, called the shootings “unthinkable,” stressing that “violence cannot be the norm” for political differences. Senator Tina Smith, named on the list, told reporters she was working with Capitol Police, underscoring the heightened fear among officials. The attacks, following recent U.S. political violence like the 2020 Michigan governor kidnapping plot, deepen concerns about polarization. web:7,12 post:4,7
Media Sensationalism and Public Impact
Media coverage, while vital, risked amplifying speculation. Reports focused on Boelter’s police impersonation and target list, but some overstated his security credentials, later debunked as exaggerated. The “This is what he said” framing, tied to his text, was a media hook to draw attention, but the absence of a post-arrest quote suggests a stretched narrative. X posts, amplifying both left- and right-wing views, added noise, with unverified claims about Boelter’s politics spreading rapidly. This mirrors patterns in other high-profile cases, where media and social media prioritize drama over clarity, potentially distorting public understanding.
For the McCanns, whose case shares no direct link but reflects similar media scrutiny, and for Thompson’s Soccer Aid story, the lesson is clear: unverified narratives harm those involved. In Minnesota, the shootings left communities shaken. Neighbors like Taha Abuisnaineh, who knew the Hortmans for 20 years, described them as “kind and quiet,” while Brooklyn Park’s streets, cordoned with yellow tape, reflected a city in mourning. Hoffman’s survival, thanks to Yvette’s bravery, offered hope, but the tragedy’s ripple effects—fear among lawmakers, canceled protests, and heightened security—underscore its lasting impact. web:1,9,17
Investigative and Broader Implications
The investigation into Boelter’s motives continues, with police analyzing his notebook, described as containing “thoughts” but not a clear manifesto. His texts suggest premeditation, but no ideological screed has been released. The target list’s focus on Democrats and abortion rights advocates points to political motives, possibly linked to recent legislative battles like Hortman’s controversial vote. However, Boelter’s lack of overt political posts and his friend’s claim that he “wouldn’t hurt a fly” complicate the narrative, suggesting personal or psychological factors may also play a role. Authorities’ insistence that he acted alone aims to quell public panic, but the list’s breadth keeps other officials on edge.
The shootings highlight the vulnerability of public servants in a polarized era. Minnesota, a state with a split House (67-67 Democrats and Republicans), faces heightened tensions, with Hortman’s death shifting its political balance. The case demands media restraint and public skepticism of unverified claims, as seen in X’s conflicting posts. Efforts like media literacy programs, which encourage verifying sources, are critical to navigating such tragedies, ensuring focus remains on justice and prevention, not sensationalism.
Conclusion
Vance Luther Boelter’s arrest on June 15, 2025, ended a harrowing manhunt but opened questions about his motives and Minnesota’s safety. His chilling text—“I love you guys, I made some choices. I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly”—captures a mindset poised for violence, yet no post-arrest statement clarifies his intent. The shootings of Melissa Hortman, Mark Hortman, John Hoffman, and Yvette Hoffman, executed under the guise of a police officer, mark a dark chapter of political violence, with a target list signaling broader threats. As Minnesota mourns, Boelter’s case demands rigorous investigation and public vigilance against divisive narratives. Like other high-profile stories, it underscores the need for truth over speculation, honoring victims through clarity and resolve to prevent such tragedies.
