That person was charged Kill a Minnesota The lawmaker and another person injured another obvious target in a well-planned attack that prosecutors said, including officials from at least three states.
Vance Boelter allegedly arrived at the homes of two other lawmakers On the night of the attackbut one person was on vacation, police left another house after police arrived, U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said Monday.
all The politician is named in his writing Thompson said he was a Democrat, including more than 45 state and federal officials in Minnesota. The elected leaders of Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin said his writings were also mentioned.
Investigators say Boelter seems to have spent months preparing Shooting – The latest in a string Political attacks across the United States.
In Minnesota, Boelter performed a surveillance mission, recorded the houses and people he targeted, and disguised as a police officer before the shooting, Thompson said.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say that his crime is a nightmare,” he said.
After a massive search, he was found in the woods near his home and surrendered to police on Sunday night. He is accused of fatal shooting Former Democratic Speaker Melissa Hortman Her husband, Mark, was at home in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis earlier Saturday.
Authorities said he also shot and injured Democratic Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who lived for several miles.
Federal prosecutors accused Boelter, 57, of murder and stalking, which could result in a death penalty if convicted. He has faced state charges, including murder and attempted murder. During a federal court hearing in St. Paul on Monday, Boelter said he couldn’t afford a lawyer. A federal public defender was appointed to represent him, who was not released on bail before appearing next week.
His lead attorney, Manny Atwal, declined to comment, saying the office had just received the lawsuit.
Notebook displays careful planning
Thompson said Bault had many notebooks filled with plans. According to court records, emphasizing what law enforcement officials are talking about is the premeditated nature of the attack, a notebook contains a list of people based on the internet’s search engine.
But authorities have not found any works that “clearly identify what motives”, Thompson said. He said it is too early to speculate on any form of political ideology.
Democratic Rep. Esther Agbaje’s district includes part of Minneapolis, who said she lived with friends and family on the weekend after learning that her name appeared on the target list.
In the text, the suspect said he “joined the war”
Authorities declined to name the other two legislators, whose houses were targeted but escaped injury. Democratic Senator Ann Rest said she was told the suspect who had stopped near her home earlier Saturday. In a statement, she said the law enforcement officers’ “quick action” saved her life.
After the shooting, Boelter sent a text message to a family group chat: “Dad went to the war last night…I don’t want to say more because I don’t want to hint at anyone,” the FBI affidavit said.
His wife received another text that said, “The words won’t explain I’m sorry for this situation… there will be some people coming to arm and triggering the guys, I don’t want to be around you,” the affidavit said.
Police later found his wife in the car with her children. Officials found two pistols with about $10,000 in cash and passports to their wife and her children, the affidavit said.
Hours after Saturday’s shooting, Boelter bought an electric bike and Buick sedan from someone he met at a Minneapolis bus stop, federal affidavit said. Police found the sedan abandoned on the highway on Sunday morning.
In the car, officers found a bondage of a cowboy hat and a letter to the FBI were seen in the surveillance video. The letter said it was written by “Dr. Vance Luther Bault,” who is “the whole shooter.”
The car is in Sibley County, a countryside home-owned by Boelter.
Coordinated attacks on legislators
The Hoffmans were first attacked at their home in Champlin. Their adult daughter called 911 and said a masked man came to the door and shot her parents.
Boelter carried a flashlight and a 9mm pistol, wore a black tactical vest and a “surreal” silicone mask, Thompson said.
He first knocked and shouted, “This is the police.” At one time, the Hoffmans realized he was wearing a mask and Boelter told them “This is a robbery.” Prosecutors said that after Senator Hoffman tried to push Boelter away, Boelter repeatedly shot him and shot his wife.
Yvette Hoffman said her husband had undergone several surgeries after being hit by nine bullets.
The complaint said police arrived in time after hearing a MP being shot and saw Booter shooting Mark Hortman through the open door of the house. The complaint said they exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who fled into the home before escaping. Melissa Hortman was found dead, the document shows. Their dogs were also shot and must be euthanized.
Search motivation continues
Two law enforcement officers who spoke with the Associated Press on anonymity said the works recycled from fake police cars included the names of lawmakers and community leaders, as well as abortion rights advocates for healthcare facilities and information about healthcare facilities.
A friend and former colleague were interviewed by the Associated Press Describe Boelter as a devout Christian He attended the evangelical church and attended President Donald Trump’s campaign rally.
Boelter is also a former political appointment, who served on the same state workforce development committee in Hoffman, although it is unclear whether they know each other.
