Childhood Friend Opens Up About Minnesota Shooting Suspect
After a tragic weekend shooting targeting Minnesota lawmakers, disturbing insights have emerged about the accused, Vance Boelter, through a childhood friend’s reflections. David Carlson, who has known Boelter since they were kids, described the 57-year-old suspect as someone he once trusted but barely recognized in the chilling surveillance images showing him wearing a flesh-toned mask during the attack.
A Once Familiar Face Masked by a Shocking Reality
Carlson expressed disbelief as he recounted their decades-old friendship. “The guy with the mask, I don’t know that guy,” Carlson confessed, emphasizing how unforeseen Boelter’s violent actions were. He added, “There was a darkness that was inside of him. He must have kept it hidden.” This haunting statement underscores the shock among those closest to Boelter as law enforcement investigates his motives behind the politically charged rampage.
Examining a Troubled Life Behind the Violence
Boelter, a married father of five, often stayed at Carlson’s Minneapolis home to ease his commute. Looking back, Carlson believed Boelter was a man struggling silently. “He was a sick man,” Carlson noted, “and needed help.” Despite the warning signs that might have been overlooked, many who knew him wrestle with whether they missed opportunities to intervene.
Charges and Allegations Detail a Grim Incident
Vance Boelter faces multiple charges including federal murder and stalking as well as state-level counts. Authorities have linked him to the fatal shootings of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. In addition, Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were wounded in the attack.
Struggles Leading Up to the Attack
Carlson revealed that Boelter was having difficulty finding steady work in recent months and was visibly disheartened by the lack of opportunities. Earlier this year, Boelter quit his job delivering bodies from assisted living facilities to funeral homes, then briefly returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he had started businesses related to farming and fishing. Carlson viewed this move skeptically, saying, “I thought it was a mistake for him to quit his job.”
A Complex Personality with Radical Episodes
Boelter’s past includes some extreme behavior, such as a 1990s incident when he was detained by security forces after entering Gaza to preach Christianity—highlighting his impulsive tendency to push boundaries. Following his conversion to Christianity years prior, Boelter reportedly destroyed personal belongings connected to his former life, focusing intensely on his faith.
Religious Background and Public Positions
Boelter graduated from an interdenominational Bible college in 1990 with a diploma in practical theology. While the institution has condemned his actions, emphasizing they do not reflect their values, Boelter’s own religious views became more pronounced over time. In 2023, he delivered a sermon in Congo expressing opposition to abortion, calling attention to what he saw as a moral failing within many churches.
Despite his outspoken beliefs, friends deny he was ever part of any extremist cult or movement. Carlson described him as “just a regular Christian and kind of outspoken,” but not threatening in demeanor.
Hidden Threats and Disturbing Evidence
The FBI uncovered lists created by Boelter containing names and home addresses of numerous Minnesota public officials, almost entirely Democrats. Carlson found this behavior unsettling, especially knowing Boelter wrote these lists while staying at his house.
Though Boelter practiced shooting occasionally, another close friend, Paul Schroeder, doubted he was fanatical about firearms. Carlson believed he was collecting guns for self-defense, which makes the subsequent violence all the more unfathomable.
Final Warning and Police Response
The day of the shooting, Boelter sent Carlson a troubling text message stating he would “be gone for a while” and might “be dead shortly.” Initially fearing a suicide attempt, Carlson checked on him and sought police help. Though law enforcement initially seemed unswayed, they quickly linked the messages to the shootings as the severity of the situation became clear.
Reflection on Lost Potential
Carlson lamented the senselessness of Boelter's actions: “Why throw your whole life away? God, he’s so stupid. He had everything.” As the investigation continues, friends and community members are left grappling with the realization that beneath an ordinary exterior lay a hidden darkness that exploded into tragedy.
