Federal prosecutors in Minnesota leveled murder and stalking charges Monday against the man accused of fatally shooting a state lawmaker and her husband and injuring another lawmaker and his wife over the weekend.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson shared the charges against 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, who could face the death penalty if convicted of federal murder charges. The state’s top federal prosecutor said it’s too soon for him to commit to seeking capital punishment.
Authorities said Mr. Boelter dressed as a police officer and wore a “hyper realistic” silicone mask Saturday while fatally shooting former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
“Political assassinations are rare. They strike at the very core of our democracy,” Mr. Thompson said Monday during a press briefing. “But the details of Boelter’s crime are even worse. They are truly chilling. It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares.”
The U.S. Attorney said Mr. Boelter had “voluminous” writings in his house and car that included a list of people, their home addresses and family members.
Law enforcement officials said Saturday that the same list with Ms. Hortman and Mr. Hoffman also included the names of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Sen. Tina Smith — all Democrats.
Still, federal prosecutors did not attach a motive to the suspect.
“I have not seen anything involving some sort of political screed or manifesto that would clearly identify what motivated him,” Mr. Thompson said. “Obviously, his primary motive was to go out and murder people. They were all elected officials. They were all Democrats. Beyond that, I think it’s just way too speculative for anyone that’s reviewed these materials to know and to say what was motivating him in terms of ideology or specific issues.”
Prosecutors said Mr. Boelter knocked on the door of Mr. Hoffman’s home around 2 a.m. while wearing his phony police uniform and flashing emergency lights on a black SUV.
Home surveillance footage showed the suspect knock on the family’s door and announce, “This is the police. Open the door,” according to officials.
Authorities said the gunman shined a light in the couple’s face and claimed to be responding to a shooting at the home.
When he lowered the flashlight, Mr. Thompson said the state senator and his wife began shouting, “You’re not a cop. You’re not a police officer.”
Prosecutors said Mr. Boelter then said “This is a robbery,” barged into the house and shot Mr. Hoffman and his wife several times.
Both Mr. Hoffman and his wife remain in a hospital.
