The suspect in a brazen double shooting that left one Minnesota lawmaker dead and another seriously wounded had previously served alongside one of his victims on a state workforce board—raising fresh questions about motive, access, and the disturbing turn from public service to political violence.Authorities have identified the suspect as Vance Boelter, 57, who allegedly disguised himself as a police officer before launching coordinated attacks on the homes of two Democratic legislators in the Minneapolis suburbs early Saturday morning. The assaults left Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman dead, and Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife Yvette wounded.Boelter, who remains on the run, had been appointed multiple times to the Minnesota Workforce Development Board, a 41-member body advising the governor on job creation and economic policy. Public records confirm he served alongside Senator Hoffman and even participated in a virtual meeting with him in 2022 to discuss pandemic-era labour issues. Authorities say it is still unclear how well the two knew each other.The appointments came under both Democratic governors Mark Dayton and Tim Walz. While Minnesota does not require voters to register with a political party, official reports from 2016 and 2020 list Boelter’s affiliation as “none” or “no party preference.”
A Calculated Ambush
According to state and federal investigators, Boelter wore a fake law enforcement uniform to access the homes of his targets. Law enforcement sources said a Ford Explorer SUV—the same model used by his private security company—was recovered from outside the Hortmans’ residence in Brooklyn Park.Boelter allegedly compiled a target list of over 70 names, including doctors, Democratic politicians, business leaders, and health clinics across several states. U.S. Senator Tina Smith confirmed that her name appeared on the list. Federal agencies are investigating whether the attacks were part of a larger political hit list driven by ideological grievances.
From Workforce Advocate to Fugitive
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a press conference at the State Emergency Operations Center on Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Blaine, Minn., following the arrest of Vance Luther Boelter in Sibley County. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)
Boelter’s public résumé paints a chaotic picture: a funeral home worker, gas station manager, former 7-Eleven executive, and private security operator. His security firm, Praetorian Guard Security Services, advertises exclusively armed services and features police-style SUVs. The website emphasises: “If you are looking for unarmed guards, please work with another service to meet your needs better.”Though not politically outspoken in public forums, Boelter was known to oppose abortion and reportedly voted for Donald Trump in 2024, according to David Carlson, a long-time friend and roommate in Minneapolis. Carlson said Boelter had shown signs of mental health strain in recent months and had recently paid four months’ rent in advance, saying he “needed rest.”Just hours before the shootings, Boelter sent Carlson a cryptic text: “I might be dead soon.”Preaching Abroad, Struggling at HomeIn videos posted online, Boelter appears delivering sermons in the Democratic Republic of Congo, railing against LGBTQ+ rights and lamenting the moral decline of the West. In one sermon, he claimed America had become confused about “what sex they are” and blamed “the enemy” for corrupting souls.His LinkedIn page lists him as the CEO of Red Lion Group, a company supposedly operating in Congo to create local jobs. The group’s legitimacy remains unverified.He also claims to have been involved in “security situations” in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, worked for “the largest U.S. oil refining company,” and had stints with multinational firms based in Switzerland and Japan—claims that remain uncorroborated.Boelter and his wife previously ran a Christian non-profit, Revoformation Ministries, which described him as an ordained minister since 1993 who sought to “share the gospel with militant Islamists.”
From Civic Engagement to Extremism
Despite his hardline sermons, Boelter had publicly encouraged civic engagement. In a 2018 LinkedIn post, he urged Americans to vote, writing: “I have been in countries where people cannot elect their leaders… I am very big on just telling people to be a part of the process and vote your values.”Tragically, one of the lawmakers he targeted—Representative Hortman—was re-elected that very year.The search for Boelter continues. The FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and local law enforcement have launched a statewide and federal manhunt. Helicopters, K-9 units, and tactical teams have been deployed across Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs.Officials warn Boelter is likely armed and dangerous. As the investigation widens, what remains is a deeply unsettling picture: a man who once worked on state policy and economic development now accused of waging political violence against the very system he once helped advise.
