A man who is accused of killing a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband – and injuring another state lawmaker and his wife – also attempted to kill two other state lawmakers, Minnesota officials say.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who is charged with fatally shooting Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota Democrat, and her husband, Mark, visited the homes of other state lawmakers in “truly chilling” attacks, US Attorney Joseph Thompson said.
Mr Boelter allegedly researched the victims and their families beforehand, in preparation for a larger-scale attack – which police thwarted.
He appeared in court on Monday afternoon to face six federal charges.
He could face the death penalty, if he is found guilty.
Mr Boelter was wearing an orange jumpsuit when he arrived in court in St Paul on Monday afternoon. He said he could not afford a lawyer and would use a federal defence lawyer.
At the brief hearing, Mr Boelter said he had seven cars, $20,000-30,000 (£14,700-22,100) in savings and made about $540 per week.
At a press conference on the same day, officials talked through what happened in the early hours of Saturday morning in the suburbs of Minneapolis.
They described how the Hortmans were killed, and John Hoffman, a Minnesota state senator, and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were shot multiple times in a separate attack.
Officials also announced the charges against Mr Boelter. At federal level, he faces two counts of stalking, two counts of murder, and two firearms-related charges.
Separately, at state level, Mr Boelter is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.
Thompson said that Mr Boelter arrived at the Hoffman home disguised as a police officer in a large black car with emergency lights on the vehicle. Mr Boelter was wearing a “hyper-realistic silicon mask” when he rang the doorbell and shouted “this is the police, open the door”.
Thompson said authorities have a clear picture of what happened because the Hoffmans have a security camera outside their front door.
FBI and acting US Attorney General of MinnesotaWhen the Hoffmans opened the door, Mr Boelter shone a flashlight at the couple. Mr Boelter told the couple there was a shooting reported in the house and lowered his flashlight, Thompson said. The couple then realised he was not a police officer.
After they attempted to push him out, he allegedly fired at the couple multiple times, Thompson said, then fled the scene. The couple’s daughter Hope called 911.
Yvette Hoffman was shot eight times and John Hoffman nine times. Speaking on Sunday, after Mr Boelter’s arrest, state Governor Tim Walz said: “The latest news is Senator Hoffman came out of his final surgery and is moving towards recovery.”
After allegedly shooting the Hoffmans, Mr Boelter drove to another state representative’s home and rang the doorbell there, Thompson said.
That state representative was not at home, Thompson said, noting that she and her family were on vacation. Authorities did not reveal her name.
He then drove to a third lawmaker’s home, targeting them as well, Thompson said. Officials did not reveal the name of that state lawmaker, either. After the press conference, Minnesota state senator Ann Rest released a statement saying the suspect had been parked near her home on Saturday morning.
“I am so grateful for the heroic work of the New Hope Police Department and its officers,” Rest wrote. “Their quick action saved my life.”
At one point, an officer pulled up next to Mr Boelter in his vehicle, Thompson said. The officer assumed that Mr Boelter was a police officer himself, who had been dispatched to the scene to check on one of the lawmakers.
When the officer asked Mr Boelter what he was doing, he simply stared straight ahead, Thompson said.
Mr Boelter went on to the residence of a fourth lawmaker – belonging to Melissa Hortman and her husband – before carrying out another attack there.
He is accused of arriving at the Hortman home, and allegedly shooting and killing the couple. Police said they found him at that residence and engaged fire before Mr Boelter fled.
After he fled, officers embarked on a two-day search for Mr Boelter before finding him late Sunday night in a wooded rural area west of Minneapolis. He surrendered peacefully, eventually crawling towards officers, according to police.
Thompson said Mr Boelter had “planned his attack carefully”.
“He conducted surveillance of their homes and took notes about the location of their homes,” he said of the suspect.
When they found Mr Boelter’s car, officials discovered five more firearms – including assault-style rifles, large quantities of ammunition – as well as a list of more than 45 Minnesota state and federal elected officials, including Melissa Hortman.
FBI and acting US Attorney General of MinnesotaMark Bruley, police chief from Brooklyn Park, said the officers who arrived at the Hortman home “foiled” a larger plan. They “essentially took (Mr Boelter’s) vehicle away from him, which involved all his maps, all his names, all his weaponry”, Mr Bruley said.
“I would be very scared what it would look like over the next few hours ahead had we not done that,” Mr Bruley added.
“It’s a chilling attack on our democracy, on our way of life,” Thompson said at the Monday press conference. “It’s only the most recent example of violent political extremism in this country, and that’s a trend that’s been increasing over in recent years, and that’s unfortunate.
I hope it is a wake up call to everyone that people can disagree with you without being evil or needing to be killed or hurt.”
Mr Boelter is scheduled to return to court for his next hearing 27 June.
