Former Marine and Security Contractor Arrested After Killing Top Minnesota Democrat

Vance Luther Boelter, 57, was apprehended Sunday night after an extensive, two-day search, one of the largest in Minnesota's history. 

Boelter is the suspected killer responsible for the deaths of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their suburban Minneapolis residence. Officials report that Boelter posed as a law enforcement officer before discharging his weapon.

Boelter, a devoted family man with five children, embraced strong religious beliefs and maintained politically conservative perspectives. During a trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2023, he assumed the role of an evangelical pastor, delivering sermons that condemned abortion and highlighted its absence in the moral teachings of many churches.

Friends characterize Boelter as “right-leaning” but not extreme. He attended campaign rallies for President Trump and registered as a Republican in Oklahoma in 2004, before relocating to Minnesota, where his party affiliation remains private.

In the aftermath of the Hortman shootings, Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, found themselves under threat as well, enduring serious injuries but managing to survive. Governor Tim Walz described the incident as a “politically motivated assassination.”

At the crime scene, officials found an unmarked SUV fitted with police-style lights and materials for an upcoming anti-Trump “No Kings” rally, along with a notebook containing names of legislators and abortion rights advocates.

Boelter has an impressive background, having taken on various leadership positions. He earned his doctorate in leadership studies in 2016 and, alongside his wife, established a nonprofit organization called Revoformation Ministries. The couple subsequently established Praetorian Guard Security Services, providing armed protection through vehicles designed to resemble law enforcement cruisers.

Nonetheless, indications suggest that by mid-2023, Boelter was experiencing financial difficulties. Four months before the shootings, he departed from his position at a funeral-home transport service and started renting a room in Minneapolis.

In the days before the tragic events, Boelter communicated a final message to roommates: “I’m going to be gone for a while… May soon face demise… I really appreciate you all.

As inquiries progress, officials warn that the reasons behind the situation could be complex. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans called on the public to hold off until verified information is available. “People frequently seek simple solutions for intricate issues,” he stated.