Federal prosecutors have revealed the disturbing notes found on Vance Boelter, accused of fatally shooting a state lawmaker and her spouse, as well as attempting to murder another lawmaker and his partner on Saturday morning.
Boelter, 57, faces both state and federal charges for the murder of Melissa Hortman, the leading Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark. He is also accused of shooting and wounding state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their nearby residence.
He made his initial court appearance on Monday following his arrest late Sunday, asserting that he cannot afford a private lawyer—despite owning seven vehicles and a house.
Prosecutors say Boelter – whose friends describe him as a devout Catholic – planned to target other liberal lawmakers and abortion providers, even making a list of 45 Democrats and other abortion activists in notepads that were recovered from the crime scene.
Victim Rep. Hortman appeared on the list, alongside disturbing notes saying she is married to Mark, and the couple has two children, court documents say.
Boelter, who was once appointed to serve on a state committee by Gov. Tim Walz, also allegedly included another notation next to Hortman’s name reading: ‘Big house off golf course, 2 ways to watch from one spot.’
The suspect’s other alleged victim, Sen. Hoffman, did not appear on the list – but the district he represents was.
A separate notebook also listed three websites for companies that sell silicone facemasks, like the one Boelter allegedly wore when he posed as a cop to break into Hortman and Hoffman’s homes early Saturday morning.
Alleged assassin Vance Boelter, 57, is facing both state and federal charges for the murders of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as the shooting of Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette
Chilling notes the alleged assassin carried with him reveal he planned to target other liberal lawmakers and abortion providers
One of the websites describes itself as ‘your premier destination for high-end hyper realistic silicone masks,’ while another asserts that it ‘set[s] a new standard in hyper realistic silicone masks.’
The notebooks also included a list of websites people can use to find personal information about US residents including PeopleFinders.com and Spokeo.
Other major Democrats were also listed, including US Sen. Amy Klobuchar and ‘squad member’ Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan were also listed under a section that read ‘added protections for abortions in MN,’ as the suspect also listed doctors that work for Planned Parenthood and abortion clinics across the Midwest, according to Fox 9.
He also allegedly included Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott, who has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood.
Boelter surveilled at least some of those on his list, federal prosecutors said as they announced they were bringing six murder, stalking, and shooting charges against the suspect
‘Boelter planned his attack carefully,’ Acting US Attorney for Minnesota Joseph Thompson in a news conference on Monday.
‘He researched his victims and their families. He used the internet and other tools to find their addresses and names, the names of their family members. He conducted surveillance of their homes and took nots of the location of the homes.’
It appeared Boelter had been planning the attacks ‘for quite some time,’ Thompson added.
The suspect allegedly wore a silicone mask and donned police gear when he showed up to the lawmakers’ homes on Saturday morning
Melissa Hortman – the top Democrat in the Minnesota House – and her husband, Mark, were killed in the shooting
Prosecutors say Boelter also shot and wounded Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who were rushed to a local hospital with ‘critical gunshot wounds’
Then, on Saturday morning, he apparently used the information he had gathered as he disguised himself as a police officer – complete with a silicone facemask – to show up at Hortman and Hoffman’s homes.
He arrived at Hoffman and his wife Yvette’s home around 2am in a Ford SUV with police-style lights and a ‘POLICE’ license plate, and was armed with a flashlight and 9mm handgun.
Court documents say Boelter banged on the door to the Hoffman’s home and yelled, ‘This is the police. Open the door.’
But as the suspect spoke with the couple, Yvette told officers she eventually realized the suspect was wearing a mask – and called him out for not being a ‘real police officer.’
Boelter then allegedly claimed he was there to commit a robbery, at which point, Yvette said, her husband tried to push the suspect out the door.
At that point, court documents say, Boelter started firing at the couple – who were later rushed to a local hospital with ‘critical gunshot wounds.’
Prosecutors also claimed on Monday that Boelter went to the homes of two other legislators on the night of the shootings, intending to inflict more carnage against those on his hitlist, before he arrived at the Hortman’s home.
One of the other state lawmakers he allegedly targeted was on vacation and the suspect left the other house after police arrived.
The suspect is apparently pictured outside of Hortman’s home
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Park police deployed officers to the Hortman residence out of precaution once they realized Hoffman was a state legislator.
By the time the officers arrived at around 3am, they noticed Boelter’s vehicle was already in the driveway, and watched as he fatally struck Mark Hortman, the charging documents claim.
Officers encountered Boelter fleeing Hortman’s home at 3.35am and exchanged gunfire with him. Chilling photos showed the suspect donning the unsettling costume mask covering his entire head.
Yet officers somehow let the suspect slip through their fingers as he escaped the scene on foot. He was allegedly heavily armed at the time.
A massive two-day long manhunt for the suspect ensued, with authorities eventually narrowing in on a rural part of Sibley County, where his vehicle had been found.
Inside, police recovered three AK-47 assault rifles a 9mm handgun and a cowboy hat Boelter was allegedly seen wearing in surveillance footage.
There was even a letter written to the FBI, which said it was written by ‘Dr. Vance Luther Boulter’ and noted he was ‘the shooter at large in Minnesota involved in the 2 shootings.’
Boelter was taken into custody Sunday night after two days on the run
Officers had earlier found his abandoned vehicle, with weapons inside
Officers eventually used a helicopter and a small army of officers on foot to find Boelter, who gave himself up to police after being caught on a resident’s trail camera.
He was seen in dark clothing, with a backpack and was armed at the time, according to Fox 9.
Boelter then gave himself up to police, crawling out before he was handcuffed and taken into custody in a field.
He made his first court appearance on Monday, arriving in federal court in St. Paul in an orange prison jumpsuit.
Boelter was unshackled as he sat next to his defense attorney and claimed he could not afford a private lawyer because he only has a part-time job that brings in about $540 a week, according to CNN.
Yet he also admitted he owned a home and had seven cars in his name, as well as between $20,000 to $30,000 in his bank account, ABC News reports.
He made his first court appearance on Monday, arriving in federal court in St. Paul in an orange prison jumpsuit to face murder, stalking, and shooting charges
A federal judge ordered the suspect be held without bail
A federal judge ultimately agreed that the alleged assassin likely would not be able to afford a defense attorney and asked the federal public defenders office to look into his financial situation.
In the meantime, the judge ordered the suspect to be held without bail after Assistant US Attorney Bradley Endicott argued he has the intent and capacity to flee, according to NBC News.
He is now in the custody of US Marshals, and is due to appear in federal court again on June 27.
Boelter was also due to appear in a Hennepin County courtroom at the same time on Monday to face second degree murder and attempted murder charges.
There, a state judge set his bail at $5 million.
The suspect is now to remain in he custody of US Marshals.
If convicted on a federal murder or terrorism charge, Boelter could end up being executed.
