After encountering Boelter at the home of Rep. Melissa Hortman, officers searched his vehicle and found an arsenal of weapons and a list of additional targets.
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — After encountering and exchanging gunfire with alleged killer Vance Boelter early Saturday, police in Brooklyn Park searched his abandoned vehicle and found a chilling trove of weaponry and a list containing dozens of names that suggest the carnage could have been much worse.
An initial criminal complaint filed against Boelter says that after he reportedly shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette at their home in Champlin just after 2 a.m., the defendant moved to the Brooklyn Park home of House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.
After hearing about the Hoffman shooting, Brooklyn Park police became concerned, knowing that Hortman, a high-profile Democratic leader, lived in their community. Squads were dispatched to the Hortman home and arrived at 3:35 a.m. and saw a man dressed as a police officer shoot an adult male, later identified as Mark Hortman, through the front door.
Officers immediately exchanged fire with the shooter, who ran inside the residence and soon fled out the back. Melissa and Mark Hortman were found deceased inside the home.
Police then searched a Ford Explorer equipped to resemble a police vehicle, an SUV registered to Vance Boelter, that was left behind. Inside, officers located at least three AK-47 assault rifles and a 9mm handgun, along with a list with dozens of names and addresses of other public officials.
The list and the arsenal found in the SUV suggest that if police had not – on a hunch – encountered the defendant, there may have been additional victims and loss of life.
“In his (Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley’s) police officers going to check proactively on Speaker Hortman’s home at that time, if that had not happened, I have every confidence this would have continued through the day,” reflected BCA Superintendent Drew Evans at a press conference late Sunday. “By his officers encountering him (Boelter) at that (home), he was forced to abandon that vehicle and lead to where we got to today.”
After searching the suspect vehicle, law enforcement then canvassed the surrounding area and located a ballistic vest, a disassembled 9mm firearm, a mask, and a gold police-style badge. Court documents say Boelter is the listed purchaser for at least four of the recovered firearms.
Boelter was arrested late Sunday after a manhunt state law enforcement leaders call the largest in Minnesota history. He was transported from Sibley County to the Hennepin County Jail, where he was booked at approximately 1:02 a.m. He is expected to make his first court appearance Monday morning or early afternoon.