BREAKING: Minnesota shooter Vance Boelter has been arrested alive. He faces 4 charges of 2nd Degree murder. The two counts for killing Rep. Melissa Hortman & her husband bring a max of 40 years prison. And the two counts for injuring Sen. John Hoffman and his wife bring a max of 20 years prison.
— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@qasimrashid.com) June 15, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Law enforcement officers have apprehended Vance Boelter, who is accused of murdering DFL House leader Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Gov. Tim Walz and law enforcement leaders are expected to speak shortly. minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/15/v…
— Minnesota Reformer (@minnesotareformer.com) June 15, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Walz: "This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences. Now is the time for us to recommit to the core values of this country … Talk to a neighbor rather than arguing. Debate an issue. Shake hands. Find common ground. This is who Melissa Hortman was."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) June 15, 2025 at 11:53 PM
NEW: Officers searched Boelter's vehicle and found at least three AK-47s, a 9mm handgun, a list of names & addresses of other public officials. Officers found in the area a ballistic vest, a disassembled 9mm, a mask, & a gold police-style badge.
READ: www.startribune.com/read-the-cha…— Walker Orenstein (@walkerorenstein.bsky.social) June 15, 2025 at 10:58 PM
The roommate of Minnesota shooter Vance Boelter, responding to MAGA lies that he’s a Democrat:
“He would be offended if people called him a Democrat,” he told CBS News, adding that Boelter “was a Trump supporter, voted for Trump,” and was happy Trump won the 2024 election.— Republicans Against Trumpism (@rpsagainsttrump.bsky.social) June 15, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Rep Melissa Hortman & her husband Mark volunteered with Helping Paws Assistance Dogs training service dogs for ppl in need, like Veterans.
Their dog Gilbert was also killed in the assassination.
“Both sides” are NOT the same. Trump & Republicans spewing their hate as sure as pulled that trigger.— Casey (@mamasissiesays.bsky.social) June 15, 2025 at 11:42 PM
hitchhiker
He’s not even sure of the governor’s first name. He likes trump. He doesn’t believe this would just be about politics — and there I think he’s right.
This isn’t politics. It has nothing to do with politics, because trump is not a politician. He’s a thug with no interest in government or governing. This mook’s best friend, listening to Alex fucking Jones and dog knows what else, decided to murder some people Team Thug told him were the enemy.
And, for fun I guess, their beautiful dog.
Jackie
So glad he was captured. I have SOOO many questions about his wife getting pulled over, questioned, and RELEASED following info stating a gun, ammunition, cash AND PASSPORTS were found in her vehicle!
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/sources-vance-boelters-wife-detained-for-questioning-after-traffic-stop-near-onamia/
They Call Me Noni
@Jackie: If gun laws in MN are as lax as they are in much of the country the police wouldn’t have cause to arrest her.
Elizabelle
Hope he stays alive in custody. He will lawyer up. I want to hear what he has to say.
Here is your boy, rightwingers. He lived your fantasy.
marys
I don’t understand why he’s not being charged with first-degree murder.
Jay
@Jackie:
reposted from downstairs.
His wife is part of the PSC, and they “boast” that they only do armed patrols and responses. Proving “complicity” requires a bit more than that, plus they are White Christians.
https://bsky.app/profile/equalityalec.bsky.social/post/3lrnm5cu6mk2d
Reply
marys
I don’t understand why he’s not being charged with first-degree murder.
Jackie
@They Call Me Noni: Seriously? This happened AFTER the murders. And the passports suggest plans to leave the country.
dc
@marys:
I read on Mastodon that in Minnesota, a grand jury has the bring first degree charges.
Jay
@marys:
In many States in the US, First Degree Murder requires proof of intent and premeditation, harder things to prove and requires greater evidence.
Often, the first charges are just “holding charges”, and are upgraded later.
TurnItOffAndOnAgain
Jay and dc got there first.
Mai Naem mobile
I’m just wondering why the charges are second degree. I am obviously not a lawyer but I thought a complicated pre planned murder was first degree and this sure looks like it was planned out.
mapanghimagsik
That roommate seems like a real tool.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
JFC! He even killed their dog. 😢
Darkrose
@Mai Naem mobile: As mentioned above, in MN, first-degree murder charges require a grand jury indictment. They charged him with the highest count they could for now; charges can be upgraded later.
And for those folks saying he’d be dead if he were black or brown, I’m very glad that they brought him in alive and he will have a public trial. I was afraid he’d get killed while being arrested, and the disinformation and conspiracy theories would become the narrative.
Jackie
@Darkrose: You can bet your booties that trump will pardon any federal charges against him. It’s up to Minnesota to lock his ass up for life on State charges.
Sister Golden Bear
@Jackie: I suspect the police put a tracker on her car, and possibly wire-taps on her phone, to see if she contacted her husband.
JoyceH
Glad the guy got caught but on a different subject, I just saw coverage of Trump landing in Canada, and can both sides come together and PLEASE let’s never again elect someone who wears those goofy baseball caps!
NotMax
@Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
All that’s missing is a gravel pit.
hotshoe
@Darkrose: Of course I want every suspected criminal taken alive — I’m horrified to live in a country where police usurp jury and judge by murdering someone they “suspect” before he can even be arrested — I’m specifically glad that this anti-abortion political-terrorist freak got arrested so there’s a chance that he will display his freakishness where mainstream can’t ignore it.
Cynically I’m sure that Reichwing will spread the narrative anyway “actually a Dem” or “lone wolf” or “FBI plant” or “not terrorism when we do it”, whatever.
But I figure he’s a preacher, he wants to speechify, what better way to convict him of terrorism than the words out of his own mouth.
NotMax
@hotshoe
Rs have apparently given up even the most minimal lip service to tots and pears.
Harrison Wesley
@JoyceH: They haven’t arrested him yet?
Rusty
In a sane world there would be federal charges too, but we don’t live in a sane world any more.
I saw a Fox News article on the wife and other family getting stopped. The headline and story mentioned referenced the passports and money, but nothing on the guns and ammunition. The level of misinformation and outright propaganda on the right from their news organizations, influencers and political figures is a deeply serious problem for the long term health of the nation. I think it’s insurmountable at this point.
hotshoe
@Harrison Wesley: Arrest Trump for entering Canada illegally?
I believe it is not automatic for a convicted felon to be barred entry to Canada.
So sorry no arrest. But they don’t have to be nice to him ;)
Rumor is that former US-allies are already showing him that they’re not intimidated by him. Elbows up, Canada!
Jay
@Harrison Wesley:
Canada is not the USA. We aren’t a ShitHole Country.
Jay
@hotshoe:
There a bunch of requirements for normal people with a felony conviction, to do, and pre-clearance required, for someone with a felony conviction to come to Canada, to visit.
hotshoe
@Jay: Interesting.
The website I looked at said something like “you could be denied entry” — not exactly the same as saying “you will be denied unless you’ve done all the paperwork we require first”.
I guess the site was trying to be Canada-nice and not scare off the tourists quite yet.
Now I’m idly curious.
What does customs entry procedure look like for people flying in on Dumpster’s jet? They just wave everyone through, figure none of ’em are Russian spies or convicted terrorists?
Jay
@hotshoe:
So there will be a Passenger List for Occupants of Air Farce 1, pre-submitted. CBSA, the RCMP and CSIS will “vet” the passengers. Felonies or not, they will go yes, yes, yes, yes, no. A Government Delegation will be allowed in as long as they don’t have an ICC Warrant, a Red Notice, or an open criminal warrant in Canada or the US.
p.a.
Minnesota Reporter said Minn State Police spokesman reported he offered no resistance, so I assume Minnesota law enforcement made the arrest…
Anyone here have the thought that tRump’s FBI couldn’t be trusted to put out a full effort in this case, to catch one of “their own”? No such thing as too much cynicism with these scumbags.
They Call Me Noni
@Jackie: I understand that. I was just pointing out that if they haven’t broken any laws they cannot be arrested.
lowtechcyclist
@Jay:
NO IT DOESN’T.
I won’t say there are zero private police officers. I’m sure there are instances where private citizens are deputized on a continuing basis. But absent being deputized as such, the persons working for private security companies ARE NOT POLICE OFFICERS.
I’ve been one of them, in my distant checkered past. I was not a police officer, nor were my co-workers. We were providing the illusion of protection and security to the headquarters of The Hartford Insurance Co. in Hartford, Connecticut. But we had no actual police-type authority.
ETA:
The ‘PSC’? Not familiar with this acronym. Further ETA: Googling provided a bunch of choices, but none seemed relevant.
Boris Rasputin (The Evil Twin)
@p.a.:
@p.a
No such thing as too much cynicism with these scumbags.
As Lily Tomlin put it, “No matter how cynical you are, it’s never enough.”
Dirk Reinecke
@lowtechcyclist: Private Security Company