Who is Vance Luther Boelter?
On June 14, 2025, Minnesota was rocked by a series of targeted shootings that left State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, dead, and State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, injured. The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, is the focus of an intense FBI manhunt. Described as armed and dangerous, Boelter allegedly impersonated a police officer to gain access to the victims’ homes in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, two suburban cities near Minneapolis. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
A Cryptic Past and Unanswered Questions
Vance Luther Boelter’s background is as enigmatic as his current whereabouts. A cryptic text sent to his roommates at 6 a.m. on June 14, 2025, hinted at his intentions: “He said that he might be dead soon,” said David Carlson, a longtime friend who has known Boelter since fourth grade. Carlson, who shared a house with Boelter in Minneapolis, expressed feelings of betrayal and heartbreak for the victims. This message is just one of many mysteries surrounding Boelter, whose eclectic career spans food service, international security, and political appointments.
Professional Background and Claims
Boelter has claimed to have worked in diverse fields, from the food service industry to high-stakes security operations. According to a LinkedIn profile believed to belong to him, Boelter graduated from St. Cloud State University in 1996 with a degree in elective studies, focusing on international relations. He presented himself as a security expert, claiming experience with “security situations” in regions like Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Gaza Strip. He also worked for major corporations such as Nestle, Del Monte, and Marathon Speedway.
Boelter was listed as the director of security patrols at Praetorian Guard Security Services, a Minneapolis-based company offering armed residential security. The company’s website notes that it uses vehicles identical to those of U.S. police departments, such as Ford Explorer Utility Vehicles, which aligns with reports that Boelter’s SUV resembled a police vehicle during the attacks. Additionally, Boelter participated in a 2022 virtual webinar hosted by Minnesota Africans United, speaking about trade and investment in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he claimed to serve as CEO of Red Lion Group.
Political Connections and Appointments
Boelter’s ties to Minnesota politics add another layer of intrigue. In 2016, he was appointed by former Governor Mark Dayton to the Governor’s Workforce Development Council, and in 2019, Governor Tim Walz appointed him to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, where he served until January 2023. These unpaid, bipartisan roles involved advising on workforce policies, and Boelter was one of over 60 members. A spokesperson for Walz emphasized that these appointments do not involve direct interaction with the governor, and Boelter had no known political affiliation in his hometown of Green Isle, Minnesota.
The Politically Motivated Attacks
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The shootings, described by Governor Tim Walz as a “politically motivated assassination,” targeted two prominent Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party lawmakers. Around 2 a.m. on June 14, 2025, Boelter allegedly shot Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their Champlin home. Both survived and are recovering after surgery. About an hour later, he is believed to have driven to Brooklyn Park, where he fatally shot Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.
Authorities report that Boelter impersonated a police officer, wearing a realistic uniform and possibly a latex mask, and used a vehicle equipped with emergency lights to deceive victims. After exchanging gunfire with Brooklyn Park police at Hortman’s home, he fled on foot. A search of his vehicle revealed a manifesto listing dozens of names, including prominent abortion rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers like Governor Tim Walz, Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Tina Smith, and Attorney General Keith Ellison. The vehicle also contained “No Kings” flyers, referencing anti-Trump protests planned across the U.S. that day.
The Manhunt and Public Safety Concerns
The FBI and Minnesota authorities are conducting a massive manhunt for Boelter, who is described as 6-foot-1, approximately 220 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen in Minneapolis on June 14, 2025, wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, a dark long-sleeve shirt, light pants, and carrying a dark bag. Authorities believe he may be attempting to leave the Twin Cities area, with a “Be on the Lookout” alert issued in South Dakota for a maroon Buick linked to him.
The Minnesota State Patrol has urged the public to avoid planned “No Kings” protests due to the discovery of related flyers in Boelter’s vehicle. A shelter-in-place order in Brooklyn Park was lifted by 3:30 p.m. on June 14, but Boelter remains at large, and the public is advised not to approach him but to call 911 or the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-225-5324 with any information.
A Community in Mourning
The attacks have left Minnesota reeling, with a makeshift memorial at the State Capitol honoring Melissa Hortman’s leadership. Governor Walz condemned the violence, stating, “Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don’t settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint.” The National Abortion Federation is providing additional security to its members, given the list of abortion rights advocates found in Boelter’s vehicle.
As the manhunt continues, questions about Boelter’s motives and past remain unanswered. His cryptic text to roommates, his diverse professional claims, and his alleged targeting of Democratic lawmakers paint a complex picture of a man now at the center of a national tragedy.
