Crime
Exclusive: Minnesota shooting suspect Vance Luther Boelter Resume
An exclusive look at the professional resume of Vance Luther Boelter — the 57-year-old man accused in the targeted shooting deaths of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the wounding of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife — offers insight into the corporate, nonprofit, and self-promotional background of the suspect now at the center of a statewide manhunt.
The resume, reportedly obtained from a recruiter, is laden with polished corporate language.
Boelter presents himself as a seasoned executive with “emotional intelligence” and extensive experience in “senior leadership roles,” overseeing “multimillion-dollar budgets.”
He claims to have held key management positions at major companies, including Nestlé, Del Monte, 7-Eleven, and Johnsonville Sausage.
Since 2021, Boelter lists himself as the CEO and co-founder of an organization called Red Lion Group. While some external reports have described Red Lion Group as a private security firm with operations in Africa — specifically the Democratic Republic of the Congo — Boelter’s own resume omits any reference to Africa or private military activity. Instead, it focuses on his purported efforts to expand the company into new markets and represent it at investor meetings and industry conferences.
There is no mention of political affiliations or extremist views within the document. However, one religious affiliation appears to be implied through Boelter’s educational background: he claims to hold a Doctorate in Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University, a now-defunct private Catholic institution in Wisconsin. Additionally, nonprofit records list him as the president of a religiously inspired charity called “You Give Them Something to Eat,” a name derived from a biblical passage.
Though his resume attempts to project a business-focused, apolitical persona, Boelter has expressed ideological concerns publicly. In a 2019 comment posted on LinkedIn, he urged followers to “pray for the political future of the United States” and encouraged people to “vote your values.” He described the then-upcoming election as one with the potential for “greater impact” than any in recent history.
Authorities say that Boelter, who remains at large, left behind a manifesto and a target list in his vehicle.
That list reportedly included not only the names of Representatives Hortman and Hoffman but also prominent Democratic figures such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, U.S. Senator Tina Smith, and Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Abortion providers and pro-choice activists were also among the listed targets.
The intention in sharing Boelter’s resume is to provide verified, factual context amid growing speculation and misinformation surrounding this high-profile and politically charged case.
While law enforcement continues to withhold certain details, documents like these may contribute to a clearer public understanding of the suspect’s background.
Crime
Agent Nic Graham Dies After Being Shot in Lakewood Police Shootout With Suspect Gabriel Garcia on RTD Bus
LAKEWOOD, Colorado — A Lakewood police agent who was critically wounded during a shootout with a suspect aboard an RTD bus has died, authorities confirmed. The fallen officer was identified as Nic Graham, a member of the Lakewood Police Department since 2019.
Graham was among four police agents injured Thursday evening when an armed confrontation erupted near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. A civilian bystander was also struck by gunfire.
The shooting followed a police search for a suspect connected to a hit-and-run crash reported earlier in the day.
Police said the incident initially began shortly before 3:45 p.m. Thursday, following a hit-and-run collision near Kipling Street and West 13th Avenue in Lakewood.
Witnesses told investigators that the suspect ran away almost immediately after the crash. However, they provided officers with a description that helped police identify and search for the individual.
Lakewood Police Public Information Agent John Romero said witnesses were able to give officers a useful description of the person who fled the scene.
Several hours later, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a Lakewood police agent recognized the individual boarding an RTD bus near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.
Officers approached the suspect at approximately 6:32 p.m. Police said the individual opened fire on officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Responding officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as Gabriel Garcia.
Garcia was reportedly on parole when the shooting occurred.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Four Lakewood police agents suffered gunshot wounds during the confrontation. Their injuries ranged from serious to critical, and all four were transported to nearby hospitals.
Despite receiving emergency medical treatment, Graham later died from his injuries.
One civilian bystander was also hit by gunfire and hospitalized. The person’s condition had not been publicly disclosed as of Friday afternoon.
Hospital updates released Friday morning indicated that two agents treated at Denver Health Medical Center had been released. Another remained hospitalized, while officials had not provided a complete update on the remaining injured individuals.
Graham began serving with the Lakewood Police Department in 2019 after graduating from the police academy.
Throughout his law enforcement career, he contributed to criminal investigations and earned recognition for his work.
One of his notable achievements came in 2023, when he received the department’s Special Investigations Unit Wingman Award for his contributions to investigations targeting gang members.
Police Chief Philip Smith paid tribute to Graham, highlighting his dedication, compassion and commitment to helping others.
Chief Smith said Graham demonstrated those qualities throughout his career, from his early days on patrol to his investigative work.
His death has left the department and the wider Lakewood community grieving the loss of an officer who dedicated his career to public service.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation.
The shooting resulted in the death of suspect Gabriel Garcia, the fatal injury of Agent Nic Graham, injuries to three additional police agents and a civilian bystander.
Officials have not released a final investigative account of the incident. Further updates are expected as investigators establish the complete sequence of events.