Minnesota shooter went to homes of two other elected officials on day of attacks: DOJ

The Justice Department on Monday alleged that the suspected shooter who attacked two Democratic Minnesota state lawmakers over the weekend had also driven to the homes of two other state lawmakers but did not encounter them before he was caught.

Vance Luther Boelter, 57, 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.

Boelter has now been charged with two counts of murder with a firearm, one for each of the Hortmans; two counts of stalking using interstate commerce regarding the Hortmans; and two firearms offenses in the shooting of the Hortmans.

The Justice Department claimed Boelter attacked Hoffman and his family first, where he claimed to be a police officer. After shooting Hoffman and his wife, he drove to the houses of two other state lawmakers, but "did not manage to make contact with either of those officials or their families."

He then traveled to Hortman's home, where he was spotted by law enforcement officers who were conducting a wellness check after they heard about the attack on Hoffman. When they allegedly heard Boelter shooting the Hortmans, the officers provided medical aid to the Hortmans and attempted to pursue Boelter who fled on foot. 

Law enforcement officers also recovered five firearms from Boelter's car, including semi-automatic, assault-style rifles, a large quantity of ammunition, and several notebooks with notes about other Minnesota state and federal elected officials.

“The horrific, targeted murders of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, as well as the shooting of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman, have shocked the nation and united us in grief," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "These horrific acts of violence will not go unanswered: the Department of Justice will prosecute this suspect to the fullest extent of the law and if convicted deliver severe consequences for his alleged crimes."

Boelter is expected to appear in court on Monday.

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