Minnesota shootings stay updates: Suspect Vance Boelter stays in federal custody with bail set at $5m | EUROtoday

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‘Evil’: US Attorney calls Minnesota lawmaker taking pictures ‘political assassination’

Police have captured Vance Boelter, 57, who’s suspected of fatally taking pictures Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark and wounding Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse Yvette.

A two-day manhunt for Boelter, described as the most important within the state’s historical past, ended along with his arrest late on Sunday.

Boelter has been charged with two counts of second-degree homicide and two of tried homicide by the state, whereas federal fees are for firearm offenses, stalking and homicide, doubtlessly making this a loss of life penalty case.

Authorities discovered “voluminous” written materials in Boelter’s automotive and residential, together with plans, lists of names and surveillance analysis concentrating on elected officers – however no manifesto, as earlier stories recommended.

Acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson acknowledged that Boelter had a listing of 45 Minnesota state and federal elected officers – all Democrats – and had researched them and their households.

Boelter allegedly impersonated a police officer and wore a “hyper-realistic” silicone masks throughout the shootings and in addition went to 2 different lawmakers’s houses.

In the wake of the taking pictures, Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah made mocking and conspiratorial posts on X concerning the killings, prompting livid criticism from his Democratic counterparts.

Trump will not name ‘whacked out’ Walz

President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he doesn’t plan to name Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2024, after a weekend taking pictures left one of many state’s lawmakers useless and one other injured.

State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark have been shot and killed of their dwelling within the early hours of Saturday morning after State Senator John Hoffman and his spouse Yvette have been shot and injured at their residence. Both lawmakers have been Democrats and pals of the governor.

Trump issued an announcement following Saturday’s taking pictures, asserting that such “horrific violence” wouldn’t be tolerated within the U.S. However, he has chosen to not supply conciliatory phrases to Walz as he leads the response in his state.

Walz was the working mate of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris final 12 months. Trump and his then-running mate, JD Vance, defeated them within the November election.

Vance has spoken with Walz, a supply near the governor advised NBC News. Walz expressed appreciation for the coordination between federal regulation enforcement and Minnesota public security officers, the supply stated.

“I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I’m not calling him. Why would I call him?” Trump advised reporters on Air Force One, en route again from a visit to Canada for a G7 leaders assembly.

“The guy doesn’t have a clue. He’s a mess. So I could be nice and call him, but why waste time?”

The suspect, Vance Boelter, accused of assassinating a Minnesota lawmaker and injuring one other, drove to the houses of not less than 4 state politicians as a part of a deliberate killing spree, U.S. authorities stated on Monday.

Oliver O’Connell17 June 2025 14:06

The View rips Mike Lee over Minnesota shooter tweets

Tearing into the Republican senator on Monday for his tweets that seemingly blamed the politically motivated shootings of Minnesota lawmakers on “Marxists” and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the hosts of ABC’s The View agreed that if Lee had “any other job,” he would “be fired instantly.”

Less than a day after saying he condemned “political violence” following the deadly taking pictures at a protest in his dwelling state of Utah, Lee took to his private X account labeled @Primarily basedMikeLee – the place he recurrently peddles far-right disinformation – to mock the tragedy and level the finger at Democrats and leftists.

Justin Baragona has the story.

Joe Summer Lad17 June 2025 14:00

John and Yvette Hoffman ‘humbled’ by outpouring of assist

Yvette Hoffman, the spouse of Minnesota state senator John Hoffman, is recovering from her accidents in hospital alongside her husband however has issued the next assertion to CNN affiliate WCCO:

“First and foremost, John and I hold a deep and profound gratitude for the work of our law enforcement agencies and the public for their help in bringing the suspect to justice, while diligently keeping our communities safe during this extremely difficult and senseless event.

“John and I are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We continue our healing journey and are humbled by the outpouring of love and support our family has received from across the state and our nation.

“There is never a place for senseless political violence and loss of life. We are devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark [Hortman]and our hearts go out to all those who knew and loved them both. We are always at our best when we unite together.”

Joe Summer Lad17 June 2025 13:00

Lawmakers on listing of suspected Minnesota shooter vow to not bow down

From a legislator in downtown Minneapolis to a veteran Ohio congresswoman, many lawmakers included within the suspected Minnesota gunman’s listing of targets have vowed to not bow down.

The dozens of politicians included in Vance Boelter’s writings have been Democrats, in accordance with Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson. About 45 have been state and federal officers in Minnesota, whereas elected leaders in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin stated they have been additionally talked about within the writings.

Authorities haven’t offered a motive for the shootings.

Here’s a have a look at how a few of the lawmakers in Boelter’s writings have reacted to Saturday’s disturbing occasions.

Joe Summer Lad17 June 2025 12:00

The MAGA proper spreads false claims in wake of Minnesota shootings

Politicians, businessmen and right-wing influencers aligned with the Republican Party have unfold unfounded claims concerning the Minnesota shootings and political violence extra broadly within the days since.

Some have framed the taking pictures as a Democratic plot, whereas Donald Trump Jr has used the event to say, with out proof, that transgender individuals are essentially the most urgent public security risk.

Here is our story fact-checking their outlandish claims.

Josh Marcus17 June 2025 11:00

Boelter’s alleged final texts to household revealed

Minnesota taking pictures suspect Vance Boelter allegedly despatched textual content messages to relations, together with his spouse, across the time of the shootings of 4 lawmakers he’s accused of finishing up on Saturday.

“Dad went to war last night… I don’t wanna say more because I don’t wanna implicate anybody,” Boelter allegedly wrote in a single message to his household, obtained by The New York Post.

“Words are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation… there’s gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don’t want you guys around,” he wrote in one other message, this one to his spouse.

(FBI )

Josh Marcus17 June 2025 10:00

Dog belonging to slain Minnesota lawmaker needed to be put down after assault

A pet canine belonging to a Minnesota state consultant and her husband who have been shot useless at their dwelling on Saturday, has been put down after being wounded within the assault.

Melissa Hortman, 55, and her husband Mark, 58, have been shot a number of occasions at their Brooklyn Park dwelling within the early hours of Saturday, by a person posing as a police officer.

It has emerged that the household’s canine, Gilbert, was “humanely euthanized” after struggling extreme wounds within the assault. He was 4 and a half years outdated.

Michelle del Rey stories.

Josh Marcus17 June 2025 09:00

Friend describes Boelter as ‘conservative’ however not fanatical

(Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office)

With Vance Boelter in custody, officers are working to grasp what drove the 57-year-old to shoot Minnesota Democratic lawmakers and their households, as officers allege.

Boelter’s previous suggests a conservative political bent, however no outright indicators of violent ideology or plans, in accordance with the restricted public info out there at this early stage.

“He was right-leaning politically but never fanatical, from what I saw, just strong beliefs,” Paul Schroeder, a friend of Boelter’s, told The Associated Press.

The outlet also reviewed sermons Boelter gave while volunteering as an evangelical pastor during a stint in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a security pastor.

“The churches are so messed up, they don’t know abortion is wrong in many churches,” he said in one such sermon.

Josh Marcus17 June 2025 07:59

Minnesota Senator claims Mike Lee fled and pretended to talk on phone to avoid conversation about posts mocking shootings

Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota continues to hammer Senator Mike Lee of Utah for his posts on X over the weekend speculating about and making light of the recent shooting of Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota.

“I wanted to look him in the eye and tell him what I thought and how it made me and so many Minnesotans feel that he had done this,” Smith said of a confrontation between the pair that took place in the Capitol on Monday.

Smith, in an interview with streamer Brian Tyler Cohen, said she had to “chase after him a bit” to begin the conversation, and accused Lee of pretending to be on the phone to avoid the head-to-head.

“I don’t think this is a man who is frequently confronted by anybody, and I will tell you he seemed a little shocked to have anybody challenging him, let alone one of his colleagues,” Smith added.

Josh Marcus17 June 2025 06:00

Recap: Police arrest Minnesota shooting suspect Vance Boelter

The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband and wounding another and his wife is in custody following a nearly two-day manhunt that followed a shocking streak of political violence.

Vance Boelter, 57, is accused of fatally shooting Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as shooting Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their respective homes on Saturday in what has been described as a “politically motivated” attack.

Boelter was armed when he was captured in rural Green Isle, Minnesota late Sunday night. He faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder.

“The face of evil,” Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a social media caption alongside a photograph of the suspect surrounded by heavily armed law enforcement officers.

Ariana Baio and Alex Woodward had the story.

Josh Marcus17 June 2025 05:00

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/minnesota-shootings-vance-boelter-murder-latest-updates-b2771282.html