Minnesota Shooting Suspect’s Background and Beliefs
Vance Luther Boelter, a 57-year-old man at the center of a multistate manhunt, is accused of impersonating a police officer and fatally shooting former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, outside Minneapolis. Friends and acquaintances describe Boelter as deeply religious and politically conservative, with ties to evangelical Christian communities and Republican affiliations.
A Strongly Religious and Conservative Profile
Boelter reportedly embraced his Christian faith fervently. In 2023, while serving as an evangelical pastor during a mission trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he expressed concern over what he saw as moral decline in U.S. churches, particularly around issues like abortion. Despite these strong convictions, friends say he rarely discussed political topics openly, maintaining a low profile with a generally conservative outlook.
According to those who knew him, Boelter was not perceived as extreme or fanatical, but rather a man with firm right-leaning beliefs who supported former President Donald Trump and registered as a Republican in 2004 before moving to Minnesota, where voters do not disclose party affiliation.
Political Connections and Targets
Authorities report that Boelter targeted lawmakers who strongly supported abortion rights. Melissa Hortman and Senator John Hoffman, both Democrats and advocates for abortion access, were among his victims; while Hortman and her husband were killed, Hoffman and his wife survived an earlier shooting. Law enforcement also discovered a vehicle disguised to resemble a police SUV near Hortman’s residence, along with flyers for a local anti-Trump rally and a notebook containing names of lawmakers, abortion rights proponents, and health officials.
Career and Personal Life
Boelter held various management roles in food and beverage manufacturing before pivoting his career in middle age. He earned advanced degrees, including a doctorate in leadership studies, and co-founded a nonprofit ministry with his wife. The couple purchased a large rural home near Minneapolis in 2023.
He and his wife established Praetorian Guard Security Services in 2018, a company offering armed security for properties and events. Boelter described himself as an international security contractor with experience in the Middle East and Africa, and he founded several agricultural and transportation businesses during his time in the Congo.
Signs of Financial and Personal Struggles
Despite his varied undertakings, Boelter appeared to face financial difficulties upon returning to the U.S. in 2023. He took a job transporting deceased individuals for a funeral home but left that position within months. Additionally, he began renting a room in a Minneapolis home away from his family.
Final Messages and Investigation Status
Shortly before the fatal shootings, Boelter sent a message to roommates expressing love and warning them he might "be gone for a while," hinting at possible impending trouble. Investigators continue to probe his motives and refuse to speculate, emphasizing the complexity of the case.
Minnesota’s governor denounced the attack as a politically motivated assassination, highlighting the tense environment surrounding politically divisive issues such as abortion rights.
