A national manhunt is currently taking place for 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, the main suspect in a mass shooting rampage that killed the husband of Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and seriously hurt State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. The shooting has stunned both the local political establishment and law enforcement circles.
Boelter, who has longstanding relationships with evangelical ministries, posted on several online sites that he was a security professional with operations both in Gaza and in some regions of Africa. His LinkedIn page lists him as the CEO of the Red Lion Group, said to be located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also had connections with Minnesota Africans United, an organization that helps African immigrants living within the state, according to a now deleted bio.
Police officers said that the suspect was last spotted on Saturday morning in a light-colored cowboy hat, dark long-sleeved collared shirt or top, and with a dark bag. The FBI has posted a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Boelter’s arrest.
What did the Text Read?
Boelter’s roommate, David Carlson, 59, who had been acquainted with him since the fourth grade, said he last saw Boelter on Friday night. Around 6 a.m. Saturday, Carlson got a spine-chilling message.
“He said that he might be dead soon,” Carlson informed police.
Carlson further stated that Boelter had been staying with him as a result of the location to his workplace at an eye donation center. Having difficulty coming to terms with the news, he was left heartbroken for the victims, stating, “His family has got to suffer through this.”
Probe Underway
Investigators say Boelter is suspected of attacking Senator Hoffman and his wife in Champlin, seriously injuring them, before attacking Melissa Hortman’s home and fatally shooting her husband. The law enforcement sources reported this chain of events to the New York Post.
After reportedly having committed the killing, Boelter escaped police after being temporarily pinned down at Hortman’s home. Officials also found papers on him mentioning the ‘No Kings’ movement, which has been previously associated with anti-Trump protests.
Apart from his business life and religious beliefs, Boelter worked in several employment positions, which include general manager at 7-Eleven from 2016 to 2021, and managerial jobs at organizations such as Del Monte, Johnsonville Sausage, and UK food company Greencore.
Boelter’s public record indicates that he was twice appointed to government advisory positions by Democratic governors, including to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board in 2016. Records also show that he most recently registered to vote in 2022 as a Republican.
As the search goes on for Boelter, federal and local authorities are calling for the public to come forward with any information that could be pertinent to apprehending him.
