Crime
Minnesota Shooter Vance Boelter Texted Roommates: “I Made Some Bad Decisions, May Be Dead Soon”
New details are emerging about Vance Luther Boelter, the 57-year-old suspect accused of carrying out a deadly shooting spree that claimed the lives of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and left State Senator John Hoffman and his wife wounded.
Conversations with Boelter’s longtime roommates in Minneapolis have revealed personal struggles, concerning behavior, and early signs of distress in the days leading up to the attacks.
Boelter, who split time between a residence in Green Isle and a rented room at a home on Fremont Avenue North, reportedly sent a chilling message to his housemates just hours before the attacks.
According to his roommate, David Carlson, Boelter texted both him and another roommate, Ron Ramsey, at approximately 6:17 a.m. Saturday.
Carlson, visibly emotional, read the message aloud to reporters:
“David and Ron, I love you guys. I made some choices, and you guys don’t know anything about this, but I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn’t gone this way. I don’t want to say anything more and implicate you in any way because you guys don’t know anything about this. But I love you guys and I’m sorry for all the trouble this has caused.”
Carlson, 59, said he has known Boelter since the fourth grade and described him as a close friend.
The two had lived together in the Fremont Avenue home for about two years. Carlson said Boelter stayed there once or twice a week to be closer to his job.
“He was just the nicest guy,” Carlson said through tears. “I can’t believe this has all happened.”
Carlson added that Boelter had recently expressed affection and gratitude, paying four months’ rent in advance and telling him he was his best friend.
Authorities were called to the home later that afternoon, where they forcibly entered the residence.
The front door had been destroyed, windows shattered, and tire tracks—believed to be from an armored police vehicle—were visible on the lawn. Boelter was not found at the location.
Officers also towed a black SUV from the alleyway behind the property.
The vehicle bore a Minnesota license plate but lacked any external police emergency lighting, unlike the marked-style vehicle believed to have been used by the suspect during the attack on Representative Hortman’s home in Brooklyn Park.
Carlson told investigators that Boelter had acquired squad-style vehicles in preparation for launching a private security business. He noted, however, that the company never fully materialized and described Boelter as having been under increasing financial strain.
The emotional revelations from Boelter’s roommates are adding another layer to a complex investigation that has already unearthed a list of additional potential targets, including high-profile political leaders and abortion rights advocates.
The suspect, 57-year-old Boelter, remains at large as a statewide manhunt continues.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that a manifesto and a target list were recovered from one of Boelter’s vehicles.
The list included prominent Democratic officials such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, U.S. Senator Tina Smith, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Representative Melissa Hortman and Senator John Hoffman — the known victims of the shootings — were also named.
The document further referenced abortion providers and pro-choice advocates, indicating that Boelter’s actions may have been ideologically motivated, at least in part.
During a press conference, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley emphasized the seriousness of the threat posed by Boelter, calling the recovered manifesto “deeply concerning.”
He confirmed that Boelter had been impersonating a law enforcement officer at the time of the attacks. Authorities believe he wore a realistic latex mask during the shootings and drove a vehicle outfitted to resemble a police cruiser.
Boelter, who had previously been appointed to the Governor’s Workforce Development Council under both Gov. Mark Dayton (2016) and Gov.
Tim Walz (2019), has no known criminal record. He remains at large following a shootout with officers in Brooklyn Park, where he fled on foot.
In a recent statement, Governor Walz confirmed the deaths of Representative Hortman and her husband and extended his condolences to their family.
He also noted that Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette are currently recovering from their injuries.
Authorities continue to search for Boelter and have issued a shelter-in-place advisory for areas surrounding the Edinburgh Golf Course in Brooklyn Park.
Law enforcement urges residents not to open their doors to individuals claiming to be officers unless their identity is verified through 911.
Boelter is considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact authorities immediately.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.