Inside the Minnesota ‘Prepper’ Plot to Assassinate State Lawmakers
Introduction
On June 14, 2025, a shocking spree of violence struck Minnesota when Vance Luther Boelter, a self-described doomsday “prepper,” targeted Democratic legislators and their families in two coordinated attacks. Early that morning, State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were ambushed outside their Champlin home, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds but ultimately surviving. Less than two hours later, House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were gunned down in Brooklyn Park, marking the deadliest political assassination on Minnesota soil in recent memory.
Minnesota assassination preppers Boelter
The Manhunt Unfolds
What began as separate 911 calls soon merged into the most extensive manhunt in state history. After the Hoffmans’ daughter alerted authorities, officers discovered the Hortman residence under attack. Boelter engaged in a brief firefight with responding police before fleeing into nearby woods. By day’s end, a massive joint operation involving local police, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI surrounded his rural Green Isle property. He was apprehended roughly 24 hours later, still clad in camouflage and armed with multiple weapons .
Key Stages of the Search
- Initial Response (2:06 a.m.) – Police arrive at the Hoffmans’ home after a 911 call; both victims are rushed to the hospital.
- Second Attack (3:35 a.m.) – Discovery of the Hortman murders; crime scene secured.
- Escape and Pursuit – Boelter evades capture, discarding a list of nearly 70 potential targets in his car.
- Containment – Authorities establish perimeters around Green Isle, employing K-9 units and aerial support.
- Capture (June 15 pm) – Cornered and disarmed without further violence, Boelter is taken into custody.
Who Is Vance Boelter?
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, cultivated an unsettling résumé: a stint extracting eyeballs for organ‐donation labs, self-promotion as a security expert, and a deep immersion in “prepper” culture. Court filings reveal Boelter had instructed family members to “prepare for war,” stockpiling supplies and mapping escape routes to avoid “people with guns”.
Professional and Personal Background
- Career Path: From convenience-store manager to mortuary technician, Boelter’s journey included studying mortuary science at Des Moines Area Community College (2023–24) and briefly leading a security firm, Praetorian Guard Security Services, which never secured clients .
- Political Leanings: Official documents list his affiliation as “none,” but online sermons and posts display anti-abortion rhetoric and admiration for far-right militias.
- Prepper Lifestyle: Family members testified that he maintained bug-out bags, tactical gear and stockpiled fuel and ammunition in anticipation of societal collapse.
The Targets and Motive
Inside Boelter’s replica-police vehicle lay a chilling list: nearly 70 names and addresses, spanning Democratic lawmakers, abortion advocates and even high-profile figures like Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Federal prosecutors allege this was a “calculated plan to inflict fear and violence upon Minnesota elected officials and their families,” motivated by extremist ideology and disdain for abortion rights .
Why Hortman and Hoffman?
- Melissa Hortman: Speaker Emerita of the Minnesota House, Hortman championed reproductive rights and labor protections. Her leadership made her a lightning rod for anti-abortion extremists.
- John Hoffman: As Senate Minority Whip, Hoffman advocated for gun control and immigrant rights—stances that placed him squarely in Boelter’s crosshairs.
Real-Life Impact and Community Response
The assassinations shattered Minnesota’s political landscape and rattled communities statewide. Vigils sprouted in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, where hundreds gathered to honor the Hortmans and pray for the Hoffmans’ recovery. Governor Tim Walz praised the bravery of the Hoffmans’ daughter, Hope, whose quick thinking saved further lives, and lamented the loss of a “visionary public servant” in Hortman .
Support Efforts
- Funds and Foundations: Crowdfunding campaigns for medical bills and memorial scholarships topped $250,000 within days.
- Legislative Action: Bipartisan calls for enhanced security protocols for lawmakers’ homes and offices gained momentum in the State Capitol.
Conclusion
The June 14 attacks mark a grim milestone in American political violence. Boelter’s capture brings legal closure, but the wounds run deep—prompting urgent conversations about domestic extremism, mental-health support and protective measures for public servants. As Minnesota mourns and debates reforms, the legacy of those lost—and those who survived—underscores the fragility of democracy in the face of radicalization.