What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

**Arrest Made** Minn political assassin info... It says "political" in the title, but please try to keep it to info (1 Viewer)

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said during a separate press conference Monday morning that her office intends to pursue first-degree murder charges against Boelter. The sentence, if he is convicted, is life without parole.

The second-degree murder charges — the highest level that can be filed via complaint — were brought forward late Saturday in order to obtain a nationwide arrest warrant, Moriarty said.

"I want to assure our community and all those who are grieving that we will seek justice and accountability for the victims of these heinous crimes," Moriarty said.

Link
Thank you... That makes complete sense.

I can see people running with the 2nd degree thing, which obviously makes no sense relative to the crime.
 
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said during a separate press conference Monday morning that her office intends to pursue first-degree murder charges against Boelter. The sentence, if he is convicted, is life without parole.

The second-degree murder charges — the highest level that can be filed via complaint — were brought forward late Saturday in order to obtain a nationwide arrest warrant, Moriarty said.

"I want to assure our community and all those who are grieving that we will seek justice and accountability for the victims of these heinous crimes," Moriarty said.

Link
That makes more sense
 
Under the state’s procedural rules, crimes punishable by life imprisonment must be prosecuted by indictment, which is secured through a grand jury. First-degree murder carries a life sentence, while second-degree murder carries a sentence of up to 40 years. The second-degree murder charges against Boelter came in a complaint, which doesn’t require going through a grand jury.

So, just because Boelter wasn’t immediately charged with first-degree murder doesn’t mean that state prosecutors won’t bring those charges in the future. And that’s on top of possible federal charges against Boelter, too.
UPDATE (June 16, 11:25 a.m. E.T.): On Monday, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in Minnesota said it will seek first-degree murder charges against Vance Boelter, noting that it is common practice for the office to initially charge second-degree murder to secure a warrant as quickly as possible, as it did in this case.

Why Vance Boelter is (initially) charged with second-degree murder, not first-degree murder
 
Only second degree murder charges?
I had the same thought. It could be an initial filing (been a long time for me, but I recall Minnesota having some pretty tight windows for filing formal charges) whereby the charged what they knew they had probable cause for and will amend later.

But, yeah, this certainly seems like a first degree murder case instead of second.

ETA: Sorry for Hippling, see links above that explain it.
 
This is the most detailed article I've found so far on this guy's history: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/06/16/friends-say-minnesota-shooting-suspect-was-deeply-religious-and-conservative.html
In an online resume, Boelter also billed himself as a security contractor who worked oversees in the Middle East and Africa. On his trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, he told Chris Fuller, a friend, that he had founded several companies focused on farming and fishing on the Congo River, as well as in transportation and tractor sales. “It has been a very fun and rewarding experience and I only wished I had done something like this 10 years ago,” he wrote in a message shared with the AP.

But once he returned home in 2023, there were signs that Boelter was struggling financially. That August, he began working for a transport service for a funeral home, mostly picking up bodies of those who had died in assisted living facilities — a job he described as he needed to do to pay bills. Tim Koch, the owner of Metro First Call, said Boelter “voluntarily left” that position about four months ago.
 
From ABC news website.

Amazing intuition and work by local PD to save a lot of lives.

Two other lawmakers were spared that night, Thompson revealed as he outlined the four homes that Boelter allegedly drove to early Saturday.

Boelter allegedly first drove to Hoffman's home in Champlin, Minnesota, in a black SUV with emergency lights turned on and a license plate that said "police," Thompson said.

Hoffman's "chilling" security camera footage showed the suspect in a black tactical vest, body armor and a "hyper-realistic silicon mask," Thompson said. Armed with a flashlight and a 9 mm Beretta handgun, Boelter allegedly knocked on the front door and repeatedly shouted, "This is the police, open the door!" Thompson said.

When Sen. Hoffman and his wife came to the door, the suspect shined the flashlight in their faces, said there was a shooting reported in the house and asked if the couple had weapons, Thompson said.

The Hoffmans shouted, "You're not a cop!" Thompson said, and then the suspect announced that "this is a robbery" and he forced his way into the home.

When Sen. Hoffman tried to push the suspect out of the house, Boelter shot him and his wife, Thompson said.

The Hoffmans' daughter called 911, Thompson said.

At 2:24 a.m., Boelter allegedly drove to a state representative's house in Maple Grove, Thompson said. That lawmaker was not home as she and her family were on vacation, Thompson said, and Boelter left the scene.

Boelter then allegedly drove to a state senator's home in New Hope and parked on the street, Thompson said.

At 2:36 a.m., after learning of the shooting at Hoffman's home, New Hope police dispatched an officer to the New Hope lawmaker's house, Thompson said. When the officer arrived, she saw Boelter's car parked down the block and she believed Boelter was an officer dispatched to the scene, Thompson said.

The officer pulled up next to Boelter, rolled down her window and tried to speak with him, but he did not respond and stared straight ahead, Thompson said. So the New Hope officer drove to the state senator's home and waited for other law enforcement, and by that time, Boelter had left the scene, Thompson said.

After the Hoffmans were shot, officers proactively went to the home of his fellow lawmaker, former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Melissa Hortman, in the nearby town of Brooklyn Park.

When two Brooklyn Park officers arrived, they saw Boelter's SUV in the driveway with emergency lights flashing and Boelter standing in front of the house a few feet from the door, Thompson said.

When Boelter saw the officers, he allegedly started firing and rushed into the house, killing Hortman and her husband, Thompson said.

The Brooklyn Park officers fired at Boelter while he allegedly rushed into the home, but Boelter escaped into the house and out the back, Thompson said.

The officers who confronted the suspect likely prevented other shootings, according to Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The target list recovered from the suspect's car outside the Hortmans' house had a list of dozens of Minnesota Democrats, including Hoffman, Hortman, Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the matter.
 
This is the most detailed article I've found so far on this guy's history: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/06/16/friends-say-minnesota-shooting-suspect-was-deeply-religious-and-conservative.html
In an online resume, Boelter also billed himself as a security contractor who worked oversees in the Middle East and Africa. On his trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, he told Chris Fuller, a friend, that he had founded several companies focused on farming and fishing on the Congo River, as well as in transportation and tractor sales. “It has been a very fun and rewarding experience and I only wished I had done something like this 10 years ago,” he wrote in a message shared with the AP.

But once he returned home in 2023, there were signs that Boelter was struggling financially. That August, he began working for a transport service for a funeral home, mostly picking up bodies of those who had died in assisted living facilities — a job he described as he needed to do to pay bills. Tim Koch, the owner of Metro First Call, said Boelter “voluntarily left” that position about four months ago.

I saw an article...granted, from NPR...that said they had found no actual military or even security background. no clients, phone on the security website went to a personal line.. etc. quoted his buddy saying they liked to play as if they were military or security- but weren't actually. I'll try to find the article.

this am, read something on BBC that talked about his extensive security and military background- but was it all referenced from Facebook and treated as "fact" within the context of their article.

not sure why this matters or is interesting to me- maybe painting a picture of who this guy actually is.

eta: link to NPR article
 
He’s currently in federal custody. Acting US Attorney Joe Thompson said Monday the federal case will likely proceed first, but the state charges remain in place. Boelter could be eligible for the death penalty for the federal charges.

Here are all of the charges Boelter faces, and the maximum sentences if convicted:

Federal charges:
  • Count 1: Stalking state Rep. Melissa Hortman using interstate commerce (maximum: life in prison)
  • Count 2: Stalking state Sen. John Hoffman using interstate commerce (maximum: 20 years in prison)
  • Count 3: Murder of Melissa Hortman with a firearm (maximum: death penalty, if capital punishment is sought by prosecutors)
  • Count 4: Murder of Mark Hortman with a firearm (maximum: death penalty, if capital punishment is sought by prosecutors)
  • Count 5: Firearms offense in the shooting of Melissa and Mark Hortman (maximum: life in prison)
  • Count 6: Firearms offense in the shooting of John and Yvette Hoffman (maximum: life in prison)
State charges:
  • Count 1: Murder in the second degree
  • Count 2: Murder in the second degree
  • Count 3: Attempted murder in the second degree
  • Count 4: Attempted murder in the second degree

Additionally, Boelter will face first-degree murder charges in Minnesota, the Hennepin County prosecutor said. Minnesota does not have the death penalty, so the maximum sentence would be life in prison without parole, if convicted.
https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/minnesota-shootings-manhunt-06-15-25#cmbzbc7if002v3b6mcyozzw5i#cmbzbc7if002v3b6mcyozzw5i#cmbzbc7if002v3b6mcyozzw5i
 
This is the most detailed article I've found so far on this guy's history: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/06/16/friends-say-minnesota-shooting-suspect-was-deeply-religious-and-conservative.html
In an online resume, Boelter also billed himself as a security contractor who worked oversees in the Middle East and Africa. On his trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, he told Chris Fuller, a friend, that he had founded several companies focused on farming and fishing on the Congo River, as well as in transportation and tractor sales. “It has been a very fun and rewarding experience and I only wished I had done something like this 10 years ago,” he wrote in a message shared with the AP.

But once he returned home in 2023, there were signs that Boelter was struggling financially. That August, he began working for a transport service for a funeral home, mostly picking up bodies of those who had died in assisted living facilities — a job he described as he needed to do to pay bills. Tim Koch, the owner of Metro First Call, said Boelter “voluntarily left” that position about four months ago.

I saw an article...granted, from NPR...that said they had found no actual military or even security background. no clients, phone on the security website went to a personal line.. etc. quoted his buddy saying they liked to play as if they were military or security- but weren't actually. I'll try to find the article.

this am, read something on BBC that talked about his extensive security and military background- but was it all referenced from Facebook and treated as "fact" within the context of their article.

not sure why this matters or is interesting to me- maybe painting a picture of who this guy actually is.

eta: link to NPR article
His friend said the security website was all a pipedream. Nothing had happened with it. It wasn't actually a business or anything with any clients, etc. A lot of the info was made up.
 
Sorry haven't kept up on it but read somewhere the wife was also arrested?
She and family members were pulled over driving with passports and cash. I believe they were released.
If that ends up being verified, I hope they all share a cell with this loser.
It seems like the police let the wife go since she was cooperative, and it probably did not seem she had committed a crime.
https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-vance-boelter-e9fc59e4307eb3461881f027ae626073

Boelter’s wife consented to a search of her phone by law enforcement, according to an FBI affidavit that cites from a text from Boelter to a family group chat: “Dad went to war last night ... I don’t wanna say more because I don’t wanna implicate anybody.” His wife got another text that said: “Words are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation ... there’s gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don’t want you guys around,” the affidavit said.
 
Speculation and questions from me:

1. It seems highly unlikely that the shooter would have stashed a backup vehicle within walking distance of the site of the second shooting where he had a shootout with police. No way he was expecting to be stopped there.

2. He fled the area on foot. And then was seen in Minneapolis not that long after. That is not walking distance at all.

3. Then later that same day/night, he's all the way back in the area they are searching now in another one of his vehicles.

So that really, to me, seems to leave only a few reasonable possibilities:

1. He stole a car and then drove to where his other vehicle was. But where's the stolen car? And, ok, maybe he had another car stashed near his rental apartment in Minneapolis, but why go get that car? And then why go back near his house and abandon that car?

2. Someone else was actively involved from the start, knew what he was doing and is still helping him.

3. He reached out to someone after the shootings and convinced them to come pick him up and get him out of area and to his other car. But then why has he abandoned car?

4. Someone else drove his other vehicle to where it was abandoned (along with the infamous cowboy hat) to throw the police off his trail.

I would be stunned at this point if it doesn't turn out that someone else is involved.
He may have acted alone meaning just the Murders
But I feel strongly he was part of a group of folks that knew who he was, knew what he was about and largely agreed with him and ready to help if he asked them

I don't think he's a lone wolf but may have been the only member of his group capable of carrying something like this out
There has to be folks he was hanging out with or around and sharing notes
 
Speculation and questions from me:

1. It seems highly unlikely that the shooter would have stashed a backup vehicle within walking distance of the site of the second shooting where he had a shootout with police. No way he was expecting to be stopped there.

2. He fled the area on foot. And then was seen in Minneapolis not that long after. That is not walking distance at all.

3. Then later that same day/night, he's all the way back in the area they are searching now in another one of his vehicles.

So that really, to me, seems to leave only a few reasonable possibilities:

1. He stole a car and then drove to where his other vehicle was. But where's the stolen car? And, ok, maybe he had another car stashed near his rental apartment in Minneapolis, but why go get that car? And then why go back near his house and abandon that car?

2. Someone else was actively involved from the start, knew what he was doing and is still helping him.

3. He reached out to someone after the shootings and convinced them to come pick him up and get him out of area and to his other car. But then why has he abandoned car?

4. Someone else drove his other vehicle to where it was abandoned (along with the infamous cowboy hat) to throw the police off his trail.

I would be stunned at this point if it doesn't turn out that someone else is involved.
He may have acted alone meaning just the Murders
But I feel strongly he was part of a group of folks that knew who he was, knew what he was about and largely agreed with him and ready to help if he asked them

I don't think he's a lone wolf but may have been the only member of his group capable of carrying something like this out
There has to be folks he was hanging out with or around and sharing notes
This is where speculation can get out of hand. Lets wait for the facts to come out.
I am very interested in the motive here.

It looks purely like an attempt to get numbers of one party even or less than the other party so one party no longer has a majority, but even that is speculation from the media with the "Political Motiviation" tag line, at the same time, its really hard to ignore that big giant flashing fact
 
At 2:24 a.m., Boelter allegedly drove to a state representative's house in Maple Grove, Thompson said. That lawmaker was not home as she and her family were on vacation, Thompson said, and Boelter left the scene.
Boelter then allegedly drove to a state senator's home in New Hope and parked on the street, Thompson said.


At 2:36 a.m., after learning of the shooting at Hoffman's home, New Hope police dispatched an officer to the New Hope lawmaker's house, Thompson said. When the officer arrived, she saw Boelter's car parked down the block and she believed Boelter was an officer dispatched to the scene, Thompson said.

The officer pulled up next to Boelter, rolled down her window and tried to speak with him, but he did not respond and stared straight ahead, Thompson said. So the New Hope officer drove to the state senator's home and waited for other law enforcement, and by that time, Boelter had left the scene, Thompson said.

After the Hoffmans were shot, officers proactively went to the home of his fellow lawmaker, former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Melissa Hortman, in the nearby town of Brooklyn.

When two Brooklyn Park officers arrived, they saw Boelter's SUV in the driveway with emergency lights flashing and Boelter standing in front of the house a few feet from the door, Thompson said.

When Boelter saw the officers, he allegedly started firing and rushed into the house, killing Hortman and her husband, Thompson said.
 
Further updates:


The man charged in the killings of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband one week ago was a “prepper” and had at some point given his wife a “bailout plan” in case of “exigent circumstances,” according to an FBI agent investigating the case. The term “prepper” refers generally to someone who stockpiles materials and makes plans to survive some future disaster or doomsday event.
===================================================================


When authorities searched the vehicle that Boelter left at the Hortmans’ home in Brooklyn Park, they found a receipt for a Minneapolis storage unit rented in his name on June 10. Inside the storage unit, they found the following, amongst other things:

  • A duffel bag containing five body bags
  • Several gun cases
  • A blue bin containing gun cleaning supplies

Authorities searched Boelter’s property in Green Isle and found the following items, amongst other things:

  • Two boxes of masks in an outbuilding on the property
  • Three additional masks in a lean-to on the property
  • A notecard with the names of public officials and their states of residency
  • Nearly $18,000 in cash
  • Nearly 50 firearms stored throughout the home
  • Several computers and a cell phone
 
"A duffel bag containing 5 body bags" is just creepy as hell. This guy was hell-bent on killing a bunch of people.
 
Boelter's wife released a statement.

""On behalf of my children and myself, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families. Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are praying daily for them.

"We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided. This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we hold true as tenets of our Christian faith. We are appalled and horrified by what occurred and our hearts are incredibly heavy for the victims of this unfathomable tragedy."

"I received a call from law enforcement and immediately drove to meet agents at a nearby gas station. We were not pulled over; we parked and waited until they arrived. When they did, we voluntarily agreed to meet with them, answer their questions, provide all items they requested, and cooperate with all searches. We are grateful for the diligent and professional efforts of the authorities to fully investigate these crimes. We thank law enforcement for apprehending Vance and protecting others from further harm.""
 
Boelter's wife released a statement.

""On behalf of my children and myself, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families. Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are praying daily for them.

"We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided. This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we hold true as tenets of our Christian faith. We are appalled and horrified by what occurred and our hearts are incredibly heavy for the victims of this unfathomable tragedy."

"I received a call from law enforcement and immediately drove to meet agents at a nearby gas station. We were not pulled over; we parked and waited until they arrived. When they did, we voluntarily agreed to meet with them, answer their questions, provide all items they requested, and cooperate with all searches. We are grateful for the diligent and professional efforts of the authorities to fully investigate these crimes. We thank law enforcement for apprehending Vance and protecting others from further harm.""
100% she knew what was going on
 
100% she knew what was going on
Since every cop involved in the investigation probably started off thinking that same thing, and since cops and investigators have talked to her extensively and have investigated her extensively, and since there has been no hint of her being accused after all that investigation, I'm going to disagree with you on that.
 
claiming Tim Walz asked him to kill Amy Klobuchar.

That is *not what the link says.

Minnesota shooter claims Walz asked him to kill Klobuchar and others in letter to FBI​


Minnesota shooter claims Walz asked him to kill Klobuchar and others in letter to FBI
The suspect charged with shooting two politicians and their spouses claimed in a letter to the FBI that Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) asked him to assassinate Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

What am I misreading there?
 
claiming Tim Walz asked him to kill Amy Klobuchar.

That is *not what the link says.

Minnesota shooter claims Walz asked him to kill Klobuchar and others in letter to FBI​


Minnesota shooter claims Walz asked him to kill Klobuchar and others in letter to FBI
The suspect charged with shooting two politicians and their spouses claimed in a letter to the FBI that Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) asked him to assassinate Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

What am I misreading there?
I was looking at the “Alpha News” link, not the Washington Examiner link. Thanks for the follow up.
 
Sen. John Hoffman discharged from hospital after shooting; ‘long road to recovery’ ahead
State Sen. John Hoffman has been released from the hospital into a rehabilitation facility after he and his wife, Yvette, were shot and seriously wounded in their home last month.
The family said he has a “long road to recovery ahead,” but a photo released by a spokesperson late Monday showed John Hoffman smiling and giving a thumbs up as he walked out of a hospital room with a suitcase.
(y)
 
At a news conference, Acting Minnesota U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said that the couple shielded their daughter from the gunfire. "We now know that Vance Boelter not only shot at Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, but he also shot at and attempted to kill their daughter Hope Hoffman,” Thompson said. “Both John and Yvette acted with incredible bravery to put themselves between Boelter’s bullets and their daughter.”

“How I didn’t get grazed is nothing short of dumb luck,” Hope Hoffman said in a statement. “I’m grateful I happened to be at my parents’ house to be able to call 911. Had I not been, they wouldn’t be here. My parents saved me, and we saved each other.”
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/07/15/vance-boelter-indicted-by-federal-grand-jury-on-six-counts
 
Vance Boelter plans to plead not guilty in shootings of Minnesota lawmakers

Alleged political assassin Vance Boelter is expected to plead not guilty at a future court appearance following a grand jury indictment accusing him of stalking and shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their families last month, according to his attorney. Manny Atwal, Boelter’s federal defender, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that the defense anticipates pleading not guilty at an arraignment hearing scheduled Sept. 12 at the Minneapolis federal courthouse. The indictment marked an important step that advances Boelter’s federal case. The U.S. District Court will now order discovery from the federal government for Atwal to review and process. Atwal did not respond as to whether they intend to pursue a mental health defense.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top