More information is surfacing about alleged Minnesota gunman Vance Boelter and his motives. And the twist is? It’s sounding more straightforward than some early right wing influencers want people to realize.
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The Shootings
If you haven’t heard about the shocking political assassinations, here are the basics we know so far. Early on Saturday morning, State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot in their Champlin, Minnesota home by a man they first believed to be a police officer. He showed up in an SUV with a “POLICE” tag and knocked on the door wearing tactical gear. When they realized he wasn’t a cop, he forced his way in and shot them. Their daughter, whom Yvette reportedly shielded from the gunfire, called 911 — and thankfully they were rushed into surgery and survived.
According to the US Attorney on Monday, the gunman traveled to the home of another state legislator — who wasn’t home. Then to the home of another state senator. But by the time he got there, authorities had already mobilized because of the first shooting. This other state senator saw the SUV on her block — but thought it was the cop who had been sent to make sure she was safe. She actually spoke to him. We guess the idea of real cops scared him off because by the time the real police showed up, he was gone.
However, the shooter was able to make it to the home of State Representative Melissa Hortman in Brooklyn Park. Officers arrived in time to see him at the home and watch as he fired into the door. The bullets killed the rep and her husband Mark. Cops confronted the suspect, who managed to get away after exchanging gunfire. Authorities quickly identified Boelter as their suspect and thankfully apprehended him on Sunday evening. In his SUV was a list of nearly 70 names. The “hit list” was mostly elected officials in Minnesota — some in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan — or abortion rights advocates. All Democrats, apparently. Names included US Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig and Senator Tina Smith.
Boelter has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder.
First Responses
When news of the shootings broke, Governor Tim Walz claimed the senseless acts of violence appeared “to be a politically motivated assassination.” Seems pretty obvious given all the targets were on one side of the political aisle.
After Boelter was captured, though, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension superintendent Drew Evans urged the public against speculating on potential motivations. He said:
“We often want easy answers for complex problems. Those answers will come as we complete the full picture of our investigation.”
However, more information is breaking through about who exactly Boelter is. And it’s not so terribly complicated.
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On Monday, the Associated Press obtained records which show Boelter was a registered Republican. He registered to vote as a Republican in Oklahoma in 2004 before moving to Minnesota where voters are not required to list their party affiliation. That’s the first big hole in the theory this was a “liberal shooting other liberals.” (Honestly, how did anyone believe that? Just denial?)
Friends & Colleagues
Additionally, the AP spoke with multiple colleagues from the accused shooter’s circle who revealed he is a devout Christian — an extremely conservative one. It’s even reported he attended campaign rallies in support of Donald Trump, and one of his best friends, David Carlson, has confirmed he was a “strong supporter” of Trump.
Paul Schroeder, who has known Boelter for years, told the AP:
“He was right-leaning politically but never fanatical, from what I saw, just strong beliefs.”
We’d call a planned mass murder pretty damned fanatical. Remember, according to anonymous law enforcement officials, Boelter had the names of several abortion rights activists written down in a manifesto left behind when he was confronted by police. What does Schroeder have to say about that?
The pal said Boelter “never talked to me about abortion” and that it “seemed to be just that he was a conservative Republican who naturally followed Trump” rather than the type of man who would go on a mission to cross names off a kill list.
Missionary Position
While he may have kept mum about his pro-life sentiments in his social circle, it’s something he preached about loudly outside of the US. According to the AP, Boelter went on an evangelical trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023 where he complained about pro choice churches in the US. According to one recording of a sermon that’s resurfaced online, he preached:
“The churches are so messed up, they don’t know abortion is wrong in many churches.”
In another clip dated February 2023, per Huffington Post, he followed the GOP’s attacks on the LGBT community, saying people in America “don’t know what sex they are”:
“They don’t know how their sexual orientation, they’re confused. The enemy has gotten so far into their mind and their soul.”
See some of the alleged multiple murderer complaining about no one having any morals (below):
The AP reported Boelter graduated from university in his 20s with a degree in International Relations. However he went back to school in the 2010s where he obtained a master’s degree and then a doctorate in Leadership Studies in 2016 from private Catholic college Cardinal Stritch University — which has since closed. After that, he moved to Minnesota where he was appointed to a workforce development board first by former Governor Mark Dayton and then by Walz… But don’t get it twisted. That doesn’t make him a secret Democrat. Tim Walz is one of those politicians that tries to reach across the aisle and get everyone working together. Remember those? (BTW, Walz’s name was also on the list.)
Hard Times
In 2018, Boelter launched a security firm which provides armed security for events and private properties. And during his 2023 trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, he informed colleague Chris Fuller he had founded multiple companies related to farming and fishing on the Congo River, in addition to transportation companies. In a message shared with the AP, he wrote:
“It has been a very fun and rewarding experience and I only wished I had done something like this 10 years ago.”
But by the time he returned home, financial hardship hit. He began working for Metro First Call — a service that provides transportation for dead bodies to funeral homes. Owner Tim Koch claimed Boelter left “voluntarily” four months ago.
Just hours before the shootings occurred, Boelter allegedly texted his roommates to tell them he loved them and that he was “going to be gone for a while.” According to Schroeder, the message read:
“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 the trouble this has caused.”
Such chilling stuff… Especially that final text.
It seems pretty obvious to us — couldn’t be more obvious tbh — where this man’s political affiliations lie. This is a modern Republican who apparently has taken all the violent and inflammatory rhetoric too seriously. A man who, like his idol Donald Trump, has no interest in settling political differences through democracy but rather through might. We mean… does anyone think it’s a possibility the fact these attacks were committed on the day of Trump’s military parade was a coincidence? Come on.
What are your reactions, Perezcious readers?
[Images via Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office/Fulton County Jail via MEGA/WENN]
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