A suspect in Minnesota tried to kill two other state legislators, employees say

A man accused of killing a deputy from a democratic state and her husband – and wounded another state legislator and his wife – also tried to kill the other two state legislators, said Minnesota officials.

57 -year -old Vance Luther Bolter, who is accused of fatal shooting Melissa Hortman, a Democrat from Minnesota, and her husband Mark visited the homes of other state deputies in “truly chilling” attacks, US lawyer Joseph Thompson said.

It is alleged that Bolter has studied the victims and their families, preparing for a more encouraging attack -which the police thwarted.

He appeared in court on Monday afternoon to face six federal charges.

He could face the death penalty if he was found guilty.

Boelter was dressed in an orange overall when he arrived at a St. Paul court on Monday afternoon. He said he could not afford a lawyer and would use a federal lawyer for defense.

During the brief hearing, Mr Boelter said he had seven cars, $ 20,000-30,000 ($ 14,700-22,100) savings and earned about $ 540 a week.

At a press conference on the same day, employees spoke during what happened in the early hours of Saturday morning in the suburbs of Minneapolis.

They described how the hydmans were killed and John Hoffman, a Senator of the State of Minnesota, and his wife, Ivet Hoffman, were shot dead repeatedly in a separate attack.

The officials also announced the allegations against G -n Boelter. At the federal level, he is faced with two allegations of stagnation, two charges of murder and two charges related to firearms.

Separately at the state level, Mr. Boelter has been charged with two second-degree murder charges and two charges of attempting second-degree murder.

Thompson said G -n Boelter arrived at Hoffman’s home, covered like a police officer in a large black car with an emergency light on the vehicle. Mr Bolter was dressed in a “hyperrealistic silicone mask” when he called the bell and shouted “This is the police, open the door.”

Thompson said the authorities have a clear picture of what happened because Hoffmans have a security camera in front of their front door.

When Hoffmans opened the door, the couple’s flashlight shone. Boelter told the couple that there was a shooting in the house, reported and removed his flashlight, Thompson said. Then the couple realized that he was not a police officer.

After trying to push him, he claims to have fired at the couple many times, Thompson said, then escaped from the stage. The couple’s daughter called 911.

Ivet Hoffman has been shot eight times and John Hoffman nine times. Speaking on Sunday, after the arrest of G -N Bolter, the state governor Tim Walz said: “The last news is Senator Hoffman has come out of his last operation and switches to recovery.”

After being claimed to have shot Hoffmans, Belter climbed into the home of another state representative and called the door there, Thompson said.

This state representative was not home, Thompson said, noting that she and her family were on vacation. The authorities did not reveal her name.

He then boarded the home of a third legislator, heading for them, Thompson said. The officials also did not reveal the name of this legislator. Following the press conference, the state senator Minnesota Ann Reis released a statement stating that the suspect was parked near her home on Saturday morning.

“I am so grateful for the heroic work of the New Hope police station and his employees,” Rest wrote. “Their quick action saved my life.”

At one point, an officer was drawn to Boelter in his vehicle, Thompson said. The employee suggested that the Bolter was the police officer himself, who was sent to the site to check one of the legislators.

When the officer asked G -n Belter what he was doing, he was just staring straight ahead, Thompson said.

Belter continued to the residence of the fourth MP – belonging to Melissa Hortman and her husband – before making another attack there.

He was accused of arriving at Hortman’s home and supposedly fired and killed the couple. Police said they had found him in this residence and engaged in fire before the Boelter escaped.

After he escaped, the officers began a two-day search for Mr. Belter before finding him late on Sunday night in a wooded rural zone west of Minneapolis. He surrendered calmly, eventually crawling to the officers, according to police.

Thompson said G -n Bolter “planned his attack carefully”.

“He monitored their homes and made notes about the location of their homes,” he told the suspect.

When they discovered the car of G -H Bolter, employees found five more firearms – including rifles in the style of attack, large quantities of ammunition – as well as a list of more than 45 countries in Minnesota and federal selected employees, including Melissa Hortman.

Mark Bruley, chief of Brooklyn Park police, said the officers who arrived at Hortman’s House “have fallen apart” a bigger plan. They “essentially took the vehicle (d -Boelter) away from him, which included all his cards, all his names, his whole weapon,” said G -n Bruley.

“I would be a lot scared of what it would look like in the next few hours ahead if we didn’t,” added G -N Bruley.

“This is a freezing attack on our democracy, on our way of life,” Thompson said at a press conference on Monday. “This is just the most new example of violent political extremism in this country, and this is a trend that has been increasing in recent years and this is a pity.

I hope this is awakening to all that people may disagree with you without being evil or having to be killed or hurt. “

It is planned to return to court for its next hearing on June 27.