The man accused of assassinating one Minnesota lawmaker and critically wounding another is due in court on Thursday, where a judge will determine whether or not he will remain behind bars ahead of his trial.
Vance Boelter is facing federal charges, including two counts of murder, using a firearm in furtherance of the crimes, and stalking in connection with the politically motivated shootings of State Rep. Melissa Hortman, Sen. John Hoffman and both of their spouses.
He was also hit with state charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder in Hennepin County.
Boelter was pretending to be a police officer when he knocked on the door of Hoffman’s home in Champlin in the early hours of June 14, investigators said. When the senator opened the door, Boelter opened fire, striking Hoffman nine times. Police said Hoffman’s wife, Yvette, was also hit eight times as she tried to close their front door.
Some 90 minutes later, Boelter did the same thing at Hortman’s house in Brooklyn Park about 8 miles away. She and her husband were both pronounced dead at the scene. Police said their dog, Gilbert, was also fatally shot.
The Hoffmans, meanwhile, were rushed to an area hospital, where they both underwent surgery. The couple has since returned home and continue to recover.
Boelter was arrested days after the attack following what Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley described as “the largest manhunt in state history.” He said Boelter, wearing a tactical vest at the time of the shootings, drove a black SUV with emergency lights to trick the victims into thinking he was law enforcement. A search of his fake cop cruiser turned up flyers for the nationwide No Kings protest, a manifesto and a hit list some 45 names long.
At a previous hearing on Friday, Boelter sported a green padded suicide prevention suit and orange slippers for his appearance. Federal defender Manny Atwal said Boelter was struggling to sleep due to harsh conditions at the Sherburne County Jail, and requested that his bail hearing be delayed.
“Your honor, I haven’t really slept in about 12 to 14 days,” Boelter told the judge while denying being suicidal. “I’ve never been suicidal and I am not suicidal now.”
Prosecutors agreed to the delay and expressed their own concerns about conditions at the jail.
With News Wire Services