Crime
Minnesota Shooting Suspect Vance Luther Boelter in Custody After Allegedly Planning to Target Two Additional Lawmakers
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Federal and state authorities have charged 57-year-old Vance Boelter in connection with a string of targeted shootings that left two people dead and two others critically injured, including sitting state Senator John Hoffman and his wife.
Federal prosecutors revealed Monday that Boelter had planned to attack several additional lawmakers that same night but was thwarted when police intervened.
During a press conference, Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson stated that Boelter not only meticulously surveilled his targets, but also documented his plans in detail, conducted reconnaissance on the homes of his intended victims, and posed as a law enforcement officer to carry out the attacks. “It is no exaggeration to say his crimes are the stuff of nightmares,” Thompson said.
Authorities allege that Boelter fatally shot former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday morning.
Hours earlier, Senator Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot multiple times in their nearby Champlin residence. Both survived after undergoing emergency surgeries.
Federal charges now filed against Boelter include interstate stalking and federal murder-related offenses, in addition to state-level charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
Though multiple notebooks and written plans were seized from Boelter’s abandoned vehicle, officials say they have not yet found definitive writings that explain his motive. However, authorities have strongly indicated that the shootings were politically motivated, with victims all being Democratic lawmakers.
Thompson confirmed Boelter had visited the homes of two other legislators that same night, but one was away on vacation. At the other location, he fled upon noticing responding officers.
Alvin Winston, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office, said Boelter’s arrest followed the largest manhunt in Minnesota’s history, involving more than 20 tactical teams, aerial surveillance, and federal support. “This was a targeted attack against individuals who answered the call to public service,” Winston stated.
According to an FBI affidavit, Boelter’s wife cooperated with authorities and permitted a search of her phone. Investigators found text messages Boelter had sent to a family group chat on the night of the shootings, one of which read: “Dad went to war last night… I don’t wanna say more because I don’t wanna implicate anybody.” In another message, Boelter warned his family to leave the house, saying: “There’s gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don’t want you guys around.”
Authorities located Boelter’s abandoned Buick sedan on a highway in rural Sibley County on Sunday morning. Inside were several key items: a cowboy hat he was seen wearing in surveillance footage, tactical gear, a letter addressed to the FBI, and a “manifesto-style” list of political figures. The letter, signed “Dr. Vance Luther Boelter,” claimed responsibility for the shootings.
A police officer later reported seeing Boelter fleeing into nearby woods. A massive search operation ensued, with officers methodically combing the area. After hours of tracking with the assistance of a State Patrol helicopter and SWAT teams, Boelter was located in a field and surrendered without further resistance.
West Valley City Police Chief Mark Bruley called the arrest a culmination of “the largest manhunt in state history.” Boelter, who was armed at the time of his arrest, was booked into the Hennepin County Jail at approximately 1 a.m. Monday.
State and federal law enforcement confirmed that police initially responded to the Champlin home of Senator Hoffman and then proceeded to the Hortman residence. There, officers encountered a man dressed in blue and wearing body armor posing as an officer. That individual — later confirmed to be Boelter — fired at officers before fleeing.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the attacks as “an act of targeted political violence.” Authorities revealed that a list recovered from Boelter’s car included numerous high-profile Democrats, such as U.S. Senator Tina Smith and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Authorities also found flyers referencing the “No Kings” movement in the vehicle — potentially connecting Boelter’s actions to recent nationwide protests. Still, officials cautioned that the investigation remains ongoing and no official motive has been confirmed.
Yvette Hoffman, speaking through Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, provided an emotional update on Sunday evening, revealing that her husband sustained nine gunshot wounds and she herself was hit eight times. “We are both incredibly lucky to be alive,” she said.
Boelter is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday afternoon. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office say further federal charges remain under review as investigators continue analyzing evidence, including digital communications, surveillance footage, and Boelter’s extensive writings.
The tragic shootings come amid a nationwide uptick in politically motivated violence, with numerous officials — at both the state and federal levels — reporting increased threats in recent years. In a statement on social media, former President Donald Trump condemned the Minnesota shootings, stating, “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America.”
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.