Live: Vance Boelter faces expanded federal charges in lawmaker shootings

Vance Boelter has been formally indicted on six federal crimes, including stalking and murder, for the killing of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the shooting of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said in a news conference Tuesday that Boelter did not leave behind a manifesto or screed. However, he did leave behind a letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel.

“Vance Boelter committed a terrible act of political violence and extremism, a targeted political assassination that was unprecedented in the state of Minnesota,” Thompson said.

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5:15 p.m. - A federal search warrant says the notebooks seized from Vance Boelter’s SUV and residence in Minneapolis contain “all manner of notations, scribbles, stray phone numbers or emails and list, but few cohesively written thoughts.”

According to the search warrant, ”There is no manifesto explaining his actions. There are, however, certain subjects or themes that appear several times in Boelter’s notes. One recurring subject matter is politicians. In many places in his notebooks, Boelter lists out dozens of Minnesota politicians. He also lists out politicians from other states as well as lawyers from prominent law firms. Next to some of his notations of politicians’ names, Boelter wrote their home addresses as well as their spouses’ names and the number of children they have.

”The notebooks contain some veiled references that suggest Boelter may have acted in a twisted and misguided sense of doing good, as depicted in the excerpts from his notebook.“

In Boelter’s handwriting, one of those excerpts read: “Doing what most people know needs to be done but are not willing to do it themselves.” Another said: ”If you want to save the country you have to get your hands dirty."

4:40 p.m. - Hope Hoffman released a new statement on Tuesday following the new indictments, which saw Boelter facing a new firearms charge for the attempted shooting of Hope Hoffman. Her statement said:

“I feel relief today in knowing that the perpetrator of these heinous acts will be charged to the fullest extent of the law. Though I was not shot physically, I will now forever coexist with the PTSD of watching my parents be nearly shot dead in front of me and seeing my life flash before my eyes with a gun in my face.

“I’ve also had to cope with the violation of my estranged cousin perpetuating incorrect narratives of that night, which was then used alongside my disability to create some feel-good, inspirational story.

“My parents pushed me out of the way that night. I was pretty bruised up from getting hurled against our washer, and I’m glad I was. How I didn’t get grazed is nothing short of dumb luck. I’m grateful I happened to be at my parent’s house to be able to call 911. Had I not been, they wouldn’t be here. My parents saved me, and we saved each other.

“This statement doesn’t need to be followed up by the specifics of my physical disability. It’s irrelevant, and it’s ableist. I really shouldn’t have to provide media training. Not now. Terrible things are happening. Let’s all try to have some decency.

“That’s what’s getting me through. Most people are decent, and many people are good.”

3:40 p.m. - The federal indictment outlines 11 guns seized in the course of the investigation, including several Beretta 9-millimeter pistols, a revolver and an Arsenal SLR-95 rifle.

- David Taintor

3:35 p.m. - A section of Vance Boelter’s indictment contains a Notice of Special Findings. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “the Attorney General ultimately recommends that the Attorney General authorize seeking the death penalty for the charged offense, the indictment shall allege as special findings.” However, Thompson said Tuesday that the decision remains far down the road.

- Abby Simons

3:24 p.m. - Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said the letter is contained in an unsealed search warrant and will be made public soon.

“As I mentioned a month ago, my office is committed to being as transparent as possible in this case, in light of a legitimate public interest in the case, and to ensure the information in the public record is as accurate as possible. I want to leave you all with this. Vance Boelter committed a terrible act of political violence and extremism, a targeted political assassination that was unprecedented in the state of Minnesota.”

Thompson added: “It’s been a terrible personal tragedy for the Hoffman and Hortman families, something that has rocked the entire state of Minnesota, even the country. This indictment represents the next step in our efforts to hold the man responsible for this crime and hold Boelter responsible for his actions.”

- Sofia Barnett

3:22 p.m. - Vance Boelter did not leave behind a manifesto or screed, acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said. However, he did leave behind a letter addressed to FBI director Kash Patel.

“In the letter, Vance Boelter claims that he had been trained by the U.S. military off the books, and he had conducted missions on behalf of the U.S. military from Asia, the Middle East and Africa. In his letter, Vance Boelter claimed that Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota wanted him and approached him about killing U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.

Boelter claims in the letter that he wanted nothing to do with Walz’s plan and that he would go public if he insisted. Boelter claims that people threatened to hurt his family if he didn’t participate in this plan to murder senators Klobuchar and Smith.

- Sofia Barnett

3:20 p.m. - Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said authorities are confident that Vance Boelter acted alone, although his motive is still unclear.

Thompson said both guns used that night were recovered, including a disassembled Beretta 92 9-millimeter handgun and at least three magazines strewn about in the yard outside the Hortman home.

“That leaves us with the why?” Thompson said. “Why did Vance Boelter do this? Why did he carry out this political assassination? The investigation has confirmed that this was an act of political extremism.”

- Sofia Barnett

3:15 p.m. - Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson also gave new details about the violence that unfolded at Rep. Melissa Hortman’s home.

“Shortly before 3:30 a.m., Vance Boelter pulled up to the Hortmans’ home in an SUV that was disguised to look like a police vehicle with police style lights that were flashing. Boelter got out of his car wearing a hyper-realistic silicone mask and a dark brown wig, and he approached the Hortmans’ front door. He was wearing black gloves and carrying a yellow gun in his chest. Boelter rang the doorbell, and after a moment, shouted ‘police, welfare check.’”

When Mark Hortman answered the door, Boelter shined a light in Hortman’s eyes, according to Thompson. Mark Hortman ultimately asked for the man’s badge number. Boelter hesitated a moment and then responded “Nelson 286,” according to Thompson.

At that time, while Boelter was talking to Mark Hortman at the front of the home, Brooklyn Park police officers arrived.

- Sofia Barnett

3:10 p.m. - Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson outlined some new details in the charges against Vance Boelter.

“First as to the attack at Sen. Hoffman’s home, we now know that Vance Boelter not only shot at Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, but he also shot at and attempted to kill their daughter, Hope Hoffman. Both John and Yvette acted with incredible bravery to put themselves between Boelter’s bullets, and their daughter,” Thompson said.

“Miraculously, Hope Hoffman was not shot, but she was the fifth intended victim of Vance Boelter that night, and as such, she is included in the federal indictment as to the murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman,” Thompson added. “We have obtained additional security footage that provides a more detailed details of what happened leading up to and during the murders of the Hortmans.”

- Sofia Barnett

3:08 p.m. - Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said the federal charges amount to the “first step” towards seeking the death penalty against Vance Boelter.

“The ultimate decision as to whether to seek the death penalty will not come for several months, and will ultimately be decided by Attorney General [Pam] Bondi, with input from the capital case unit in the Department of Justice along with this office, and the victims.”

- Sofia Barnett

3 p.m. - Read the indictment against Vance Boelter.

- Matt DeLong

2:52 p.m. - Vance Boelter has been formally indicted on six federal crimes, including stalking and murder, for the killing of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the shooting of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

- Abby Simons