Minnesota shooting suspect tells family he 'went to war' hours after killings: Prosecutors

Federal prosecutors on Monday claimed in a criminal complaint that the suspected Minnesota shooter Vance Boelter texted his family that he "went to war," hours after he allegedly shot four people, including two Democratic state lawmakers. 

Boelter was arrested on Sunday in connection with the fatal shootings of Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a former House speaker, and her husband at their Brooklyn Park home on Saturday morning. He also allegedly shot Democratic State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who were wounded at their home in Champlin.

The suspect also allegedly went to two other state lawmakers' residences but did not encounter them or their family.

Boelter allegedly sent the unusual text message to a family group chat at 6:15 a.m. on Saturday morning, the New York Post reported, followed by an apology to his wife.

“Dad went to war last night … I don’t wanna say more because I don’t wanna implicate anybody,” Boelter allegedly wrote. 

Boelter then reportedly sent a text to his wife that appeared to apologize for his actions and warned her that officers would be looking for him soon.

“Words are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation," he wrote. "There’s gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don’t want you guys around." 

Boelter, who is facing multiple murder and stalking charges, also told a court in his first appearance since the incident that he is too poor to afford a defense attorney, despite admitting to owning a house and seven cars. His total financial situation is not clear.

The suspect has now been ordered to be held without bail, and a detention hearing is scheduled for June 27.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.