Key Point Summary – Minnesota killer Vance Boelter

• Vance Boelter listed over 45 officials in a kill list
• He shot and killed Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband
• Suspect surveilled homes and families for weeks
• Escaped back door before being spotted in nearby town
• Attempted to kill four lawmakers, others were not home
• Caught hiding in a culvert after local spotted him
• FBI believes attacks were politically motivated

A Kill List With Over 45 Names

The Minnesota killer Vance Boelter had one mission—eliminate those in power.

When agents opened his notebook, they found the names of more than 45 state and federal elected officials. Each name was accompanied by addresses, notes on relatives, and even surveillance sketches. According to acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson, “Boelter planned his attack carefully.”

He stalked his victims, learned their routines, and crept around their neighborhoods unnoticed. The writing was on the wall for weeks, but no one saw it coming.

Melissa Hortman’s Final Moments

Boelter’s most horrific act came in Brooklyn Park.

He approached the home of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Witnesses say he stood outside the house before storming the front door, firing shots as he entered.

Inside, both Melissa and Mark were fatally shot. Boelter then fled through the back, disappearing before police could react. Thompson said Boelter “repeatedly fired into the house”—it was an ambush.

Four Targets in a Single Night

The horror didn’t stop with the Hortmans. Authorities confirmed Boelter had planned to kill four Minnesota state politicians that night.

Earlier that morning, he rang the doorbell at another representative’s home in Maple Grove. Thankfully, the family was on vacation. He left without incident, but with clear intent to kill.

Boelter also visited the home of a state senator in New Hope. A responding officer, seeing Boelter’s vehicle parked nearby, mistook him for a fellow officer and let him vanish again.

Wendy’s Close Call With Death

In Green Isle, local resident Wendy Thomas nearly crossed paths with the killer.

She stopped by a friend’s home, and as she reversed her truck down the driveway, she noticed a man crouched in the grass. Her first thought was that he might be law enforcement.

But something didn’t feel right. “There’s only one person. No vehicle,” she told her father over the phone. Panic set in. She flagged down police nearby. Moments later, they found Boelter hiding in a culvert. She had just exposed one of the most wanted men in the state.

Six Months of Plotting

According to federal prosecutors, Boelter had been preparing this plan for months.

He used the internet and public databases to find addresses, birth dates, and family names. He didn’t just want to hurt the politicians—he wanted to punish their loved ones too.

Thompson described the material in Boelter’s notebooks as chilling. “This wasn’t rage. This was ritual,” he said.

Police Fire Under Unclear Circumstances

After killing the Hortmans, Boelter fled, triggering a manhunt that gripped Minnesota. When officers finally caught up with him, gunfire was exchanged—but officials still aren’t sure whether Boelter fired first.

“We don’t know if he returned fire,” said Drew Evans of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

What is clear is the trail of terror he left behind. An entire state is reeling.

FBI Warns of Broader Domestic Threat

The FBI has taken over the investigation, citing concerns that Boelter may not be acting alone.

There’s no evidence yet of a co-conspirator, but the political motivation behind the attacks raises red flags. Officials believe Boelter was radicalized online and may have communicated with extremist groups.

Federal agents have launched a digital sweep of Boelter’s phone, computer, and social media accounts.

Community in Mourning, Lawmakers on Edge

Public response has been overwhelming. Vigils for the Hortmans are being held across the state.

Meanwhile, security has been ramped up for dozens of Minnesota lawmakers. Some have temporarily relocated, fearing they may still be targets.

“This hits close to home,” said one state senator, who asked not to be named. “You never think your public service could get your family killed.”

What Comes Next?

As prosecutors prepare charges and agents comb through evidence, one question lingers—how many more names were on Boelter’s future hit list?

And if Wendy Thomas hadn’t spotted him—how many more people would be dead?

A state searches for answers. A nation wonders if more Boelters are out there, just waiting for their moment.

Stay tuned for updates.