Crime
Vance Boelter Impersonated Police, Stockpiled Gear, and Stalked Lawmakers for Days Ahead of Deadly Attacks
Federal authorities say Vance Luther Boelter, the man accused of fatally shooting Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband and wounding Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, spent days meticulously planning the attacks, including purchasing gear to impersonate a law enforcement officer.
According to newly unsealed federal charging documents, Boelter visited a Fleet Farm store in north Minneapolis five days before the shootings and purchased a tactical rifle case, multiple types of ammunition, a flashlight, and materials believed to have been used to create a counterfeit “POLICE” license plate.
The FBI said the items were recovered at a residence Boelter used part-time.
Investigators believe Boelter’s disguise was so convincing that he managed to evade immediate detection by law enforcement.
Notably, after the shooting at Sen. Hoffman’s residence, Boelter drove to another elected official’s home in New Hope.
There, a local officer—mistaking him for a legitimate member of a security detail—approached Boelter’s SUV. Boelter reportedly ignored the officer and fled the scene.
Authorities also uncovered a series of disturbing text messages Boelter allegedly sent to family members following the attacks.
In one message sent to a family group chat, he wrote:
“Dad went to war last night … I don’t wanna say more because I don’t wanna implicate anybody.”
In another, he warned his family of the danger his actions might bring to them:
“There’s gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don’t want you guys around.”
His wife later consented to a search of their vehicle, where law enforcement recovered two handguns, passports, and approximately $10,000 in cash.
Federal investigators say Boelter kept extensive handwritten notes documenting surveillance efforts, target lists, and the personal information of elected officials.
While no explicit manifesto has been discovered, Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson noted that all of the identified targets were Democratic elected officials.
“It’s pretty clear from the evidence that he’s been planning these attacks for quite some time,” Thompson said.
“They were all elected officials. They were all Democrats. Beyond that, I think it’s just way too speculative right now to draw conclusions about political ideology or a specific motive.”
Boelter, 57, now faces federal charges including two counts of murder with a firearm, interstate stalking, and other felonies.
He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and is scheduled to appear in federal court on June 27.
Crime
5 dead including 3 children in Silver Rail Elementary shooting in Bend, teenage shooter killed by a Good Samaritan
BEND, Ore. — Five people were reportedly killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, according to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement.
The reported shooting prompted a major emergency response involving police, fire crews, and emergency medical services.
Authorities issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m., warning of a large police presence at the elementary school and urging the public to avoid the area.
According to the information provided, four victims were killed at the school. Three of those victims were children, while the fourth was an adult. The suspected gunman, described in preliminary reports as a teenager, was also reported dead, bringing the reported total to five fatalities.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identities of the victims and the suspect, had not been fully established in the information available.
Preliminary reports indicated that the suspected gunman was a teenager and was killed after being confronted by a Good Samaritan.
Earlier scanner traffic reportedly indicated that the suspect had been neutralized. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the individual who intervened may have been a father of a student at the school.
However, authorities had not publicly confirmed all the circumstances surrounding the confrontation or independently verified the reported identity and role of the person who intervened.
Investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events leading up to the shooting, how the suspect was stopped, and whether the suspect acted alone.
The first police alert was issued at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday. It described a large police presence at Silver Rail Elementary School and instructed the public to stay away from the area.
Fire and emergency medical services personnel were seen responding near the school as authorities worked to address the reported threat and assist those affected.
The shooting prompted urgent concern among families and the surrounding community, particularly after reports indicated that children were among the victims.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced a reunification site for students and their families at Journey Church, located at 61303 S. Highway 97 in Bend, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Parents and guardians were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with students and receive further information.
Authorities urged families to follow official instructions and avoid approaching the school while emergency operations continued.
The reported shooting also prompted precautionary security measures at nearby schools. Parents received alerts indicating that Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary School had been placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon.
The lockdowns were reported as law enforcement responded to Silver Rail Elementary and worked to secure the surrounding area.
Further information was needed to establish how long the lockdowns remained in effect and when normal school operations resumed.
Although preliminary information indicated five deaths, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, additional official confirmation is needed regarding the victims’ identities, the suspect’s identity, and the circumstances of the shooting.
The reported involvement of a Good Samaritan also requires confirmation from investigators.
This remains a developing story. Further details should be added as law enforcement and school officials release verified information about the shooting and the investigation.