What we know about Vance Boelter, the suspect in the Minnesota lawmaker shootings
The man accused of shooting two Democratic lawmakers and their spouses over the weekend will be charged with a slate of federal crimes, including stalking, murder and shooting, prosecutors announced at a news conference Monday.
Vance Boelter was taken into custody Sunday night following the largest manhunt in Minnesota's history. Authorities tracked him down in a field near his home after spotting his abandoned car and cowboy hat. He will appear in federal court at 1:30 p.m. CDT.
Authorities revealed new details during a Monday press conference of how Boelter 'stalked his victims like prey,' researching his victims' families and surveilling their homes.
'It is no exaggeration to say this is the stuff of nightmares,' said Joseph Thompson, the acting U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota.
Boelter is accused of killing state Rep. Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband Mark Hortman, as well as shooting state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife Yvette Hoffman. John and Yvette Hoffman were hospitalized and are expected to recover.
'Look, this is a political assassination, which is not a word we use in the United States,' Thompson said.
Authorities found a notebook with the names of more than 45 elected officials in a search of Boelter's car.
Thompson said the suspect had traveled to the homes of more Minnesota state politicians — four — than previously known. He was disguised as a police officer, wearing a tactical vest and driving a black SUV with emergency lights.
Boelter first went to the home of Hoffman, a Democratic state senator living in Champlin, Minn., and knocked on his door, shouting 'This is the police,' Thompson said.
When Hoffman and his wife came to the door, Boelter apparently said there had been a shooting reported in the house and asked if Hoffman had any weapons inside.
When Hoffman and his wife realized that Boelter was not a police officer, Boelter allegedly announced that he was robbing the house and forced his way inside. He then shot both Hoffman and his wife, Thompson said, and fled. The Hoffmans' daughter called 911.
Boelter then traveled to an unidentified state representative's home in nearby Maple Grove, Minn. and rang the doorbell, but the representative and her family were away on vacation.
He then proceeded to a state senator's house in New Hope, Minn., a short drive away. There, he had a brief encounter with a local police officer who had been dispatched to do a wellness check on the senator after hearing of Hoffman's shooting.
When the officer saw Boelter's SUV parked on the street, she pulled up next to him and attempted to speak with him.
'According to the officer, he just sat there and stared straight ahead,' Thompson said. The officer proceeded to the state senator's home, and by the time other law enforcement had arrived, Boelter was gone.
At about 3:30 a.m. — nearly 90 minutes after he first appeared at Hoffman's home — Boelter arrived at Hortman's residence, Thompson said, and parked in the driveway with his emergency lights on.
Around the same time, officers from the Brooklyn Park Police Department arrived to do a wellness check on Hortman. When they got out of the car, Boelter began exchanging gunfire with them, Thompson said. He then rushed into the house, and escaped out the back door.
Hortman and her husband Mark were both killed, but the timing of their shootings was unclear.
Boelter was at large for nearly two straight days before he was apprehended late Sunday night.
While Thompson said the killings were political violence, he said he had not seen a 'Unabomber-style manifesto' that might have leant clues to a more specific ideological motivation.
Thompson declined to say during the press conference whether he would seek the death penalty, but also did not rule it out.
'It's too early to tell, but that is one of the options for several of the charges,' he said.
According to federal charging documents, Boelter bought law enforcement-like equipment, including a tactical rifle case and two types of ammunition, days in advance.
Authorities also found extensive notebooks with planning and notes in his home and car.
Boelter previously worked for a local security company and claimed an extensive security resume in several countries, including Eastern Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle East.
In addition to the federal charges, Boelter is also facing second-degree murder charges on the state level. Hennepin County prosecutors have said they will seek first-degree state charges, which require a grand jury indictment.
His court appearance for the state charges is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. local time in Minneapolis, the same time as his federal appearance in St. Paul. Boelter is expected to attend the latter.
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