Alleged Minnesota gunman faces federal murder counts on top of state charges
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A woman puts flowers at a memorial at the State Capitol for Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, on June 16. Photo: Steven Garcia/Getty Images
The man who allegedly shot and killed a prominent Minnesota state legislator and her husband now faces federal stalking, murder and firearms charges, officials announced Monday.
The big picture: Vance Luther Boelter, who is also accused of wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, already faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder at the state level, according to Hennepin County court records.
- Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said during a Monday press conference that she intends to pursue first-degree murder charges against Boelter in the fatal shootings of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.
- The attacks set off a complex manhunt — one that officials described as the largest in state history — that lasted nearly two days before Boelter was apprehended late Sunday.
Driving the news: The U.S. attorney's office filed a complaint late Sunday charging him with an "array of federal charges," said Joe Thompson, the acting U.S. attorney for the district of Minnesota.
- "It's no exaggeration to say this is stuff of nightmares," he said.
- In total, Boelter is currently facing six federal charges.
- Thompson said it is "too early to tell" whether federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty, but it remains an option. Minnesota does not have the death penalty.
After the attacks, Boelter allegedly texted his wife and other family members, "Dad went to war last night," according to a search of his spouse's phone detailed in an affidavit filed Sunday.
- Law enforcement recovered two handguns, approximately $10,000 in cash and passports for his wife and children in her car, the affidavit said.
- In a north Minneapolis residence where Boelter allegedly lived with another man part-time, investigators found several notebooks that listed the names and addresses of numerous Minnesota public officials, including Hortman.
- Another notation listed websites for masks similar to the one Boelter allegedly wore during the attacks.
Asked about Boelter's motives, Thompson said it is "way too speculative for anyone that's reviewed these materials to know and to say what was motivating him in terms of ideology."
- He said there were names of "some abortion rights supporters" included in Boelter's writings recovered by law enforcement.
Catch up quick: After his arrest, Boelter was booked into Hennepin County jail overnight. His bail was set at $5 million, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported.
- Thompson said Boelter is being held at the federal courthouse in St. Paul and will appear in federal court Monday afternoon.
Context: Police responded to a shooting shortly after 2am CT Saturday at Hoffman's residence, according to charging documents.
- Boelter allegedly identified himself as a police officer — while wearing a mask and a police-style tactical vest with a badge — before entering their home and shooting the lawmaker and his wife.
- After leaving the Hoffmans' home, Boelter allegedly rang the doorbell at another state lawmaker's house in Maple Grove after 2:20am, but that lawmaker wasn't home, Thompson told reporters Monday.
- Boelter then allegedly traveled to another state senator's home in New Hope, Thompson said. A New Hope officer dispatched to the lawmaker's house for a wellness check allegedly saw Boelter's black SUV parked down the block.
- That officer, who believed Boelter was an officer dispatched to the scene, pulled up next to him, rolled down her window and attempted to speak with him. Boelter did not respond.
- Police said Boelter had left the scene before additional officers arrived.
A witness who met Boelter at a bus stop Saturday morning told law enforcement that Boelter asked to purchase an electric bike and car from him, according to the affidavit.
- The pair then allegedly traveled to the witness's house and then to a bank, where Boelter emptied an account in his name to buy the car and the bike.
- Law enforcement later found the car abandoned and inside it a handwritten letter addressed to the FBI. In the letter, the writer — who identified himself as Boelter — admitted to being "the shooter at large in Minnesota" involved in the attacks.
Go deeper: What to know about the Minnesota shooting suspect
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information about the charges.
