Who is Vance Boelter, the man accused of the murder of the American legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband

A Federal Prosecutor accused Boelter on Monday of six positions that include murder, harassment and possession of firearms.

The two assassination charges with a firearm can lead to life imprisonment or the death penalty, according to prosecutor Joseph Thompson.

“This was a political murder, a word that we do not use very often in the United States, much less here in Minnesota,” he said.

“It is a chilling attack on our democracy, to our way of life,” he added.

On the other hand, at the state level, Boelter is accused of two second -degree murder positions and two positions of second degree murder attempt.

Although in Minnesota the voters do not declare their political affiliation when registered, and that state reports reviewed by the local press describe it as “without partisan preference”, Boelter seemed to have a consistent ideology.

According to CNN, the man enrolled to vote as a Republican in the 2000s and, according to his friend David Carlson, would be a supporter of the Donald Trump's government and strong opponent of the right to abortion or the demands of the LGBT community.

Carlson spoke with journalists on Saturday night and declared that the 57 -year -old man had faced serious economic and mental health problems in recent times. “He simply gave up in life for some reason,” said Carlson, according to New York Times.

Boelter's friend used to rent a room and it was there that he spent the night before committing the crimes for which he stopped. Carlson said that Friday night sent him a text message in which he anticipated that he could die soon.

“I don't want to say anything else or involve them in any way because you know any of this. But I love you very much and regret all the problems that this has caused,” Boelter would have written to his friend, who read the text before the press.

According to local media, Boelter worked for decades in the food industry, and then participated in agricultural projects in Central Africa. He and his wife also appeared as directors of a private security company called Praetor Guard Security Services, which would have allowed him to have access to clothing similar to that used by the police to approach the victims.

The investigators claim that Boelter was disguised as a policeman when he perpetrated the attacks and had a vehicle that looked like a patrol car, equipped with flashing emergency lights.

On the website of the security company, according to CNN, Boelter boasted to have “police -type vehicles” and pointed out: “We drove the same brand and model of vehicles that use many police departments in the US in the US currently driving Ford Explorer utilitarian vehicles.”

On the same page, the alleged Boelter experience in security for conflict areas outside the United States, including Eastern Europe, North America and the Middle East was detailed, including the West Bank, the South of Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

On their link with the victims there is still no clarity. What is known is that Boelter had worked at a state economic board with Senator John A. Hoffman, who survived the shooting.

Boelter was appointed member of the Labor Development Board of the governor of Minnesota in 2016 by former Democratic Governor Mark Dayton, being re -elected by Governor Tim Walz, also a Democrat.

According to those who know the work and operation of the Board, it is not clear that Boelter has known or coincided directly with Senator Hoffman.

According to Boelter colleagues, who spoke with local media, more recently he would have involved in the funeral industry.

In a video he published online, Boelter said he worked six days a week for two funeral services companies in the Minneapolis area, work in which – according to him – sometimes he collaborated with police officers and forensic investigators.

According to him New York Timesstate reports and his LinkedIn profile indicate that he was also a general manager of a 7-eleven in Minneapolis and, before, general manager of a gas station in St. Paul.

On LinkedIn, he also published that he was the executive director of a company called Red Lion Group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

As an evangelical Christian, Boelter pronounced several sermons in churches in that country.

In some videos published on the Internet, man told how Jesus changed his life during his adolescence and blessed him with five children. In one of the sermons also reveals its position on issues such as homosexuality and trans people.

“There are people, especially in the United States, who doesn't know what sex has,” he said. “They don't know their sexual orientation, they are confused. The enemy has gotten too much in their minds and souls.”

Boelter and his wife directed a Christian organization called Revoformation Ministries. According to a archived version of the website of the group, Boelter would have ordered minister in 1993.

On that same page, it is claimed that man had traveled to violent areas and “searched for militant Islamists to share the gospel and tell them that violence was not the answer.”

Beyond his career, his friend Carlson told the media that his political and religious beliefs were not “what he defined” in his life.

“He was not a person full of hate. But he needed help,” he told local media.

Before stopping Boelter on Sunday, the police reported having found a unoccupied car linked to the suspect in Sibley County, about 80 kilometers from the crime scene.

The finding of the black sedan was notified to the mobile phones of local residents through a message that said: “Suspect not located. Keep the doors closed with key and the insured vehicles.”

A cowboy hat, similar to that believed that Boelter wore, was found near.

Police also reported on Sunday that Boelter's wife was arrested in a traffic control along with three relatives in a car in the city of Onamia, more than 160 kilometers from the family home in the rural community of Green isle, on Saturday morning.

Jenny Boelter was released after cooperating with the authorities, according to Drew Evans, of the Minnesota Criminal Detention Office, at a press conference on Sunday night.

Vance Boelter had notebooks with a list of more than 45 elected officials -estatals and federals- of Minnesota, including Hortman.

According to prosecutor Thompson, the man “planned his attack carefully.”

“He investigated his family, his victims and their families; he used the Internet and other tools to find his addresses, names and names of family members,” Thompson informed.

“He watched his houses and took notes on his location,” he said.

The attacker first shot the Hoffman at his home in Champlin around 2:00 local time (7:00 GMT) on Saturday, authorities reported.

When he left the Hoffman's house, Boelter led to the house of another state representative and touched the bell.

The state representative was not at home because they were on vacation.

The prosecutor did not reveal his name.

He then led to the house of another legislator and tried to attack another person.

A police officer who arrived at the place made Boelter retire, Thompson added.

Shortly after, Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot dead at their home in Brooklyn Park, 13 kilometers away.

The agents arrived at the house of the Hortman and exchanged shots with the suspect around 3:35 local time.

The suspect managed to flee, leaving his car behind, the authorities reported.

Yvette Hoffman said she and her husband were “very lucky to be alive” after receiving 17 bullet impacts.

John E Yvette Hoffman were shot dead at home at dawn on Saturday, but survived.

Yvette Hoffman declared that she and her husband, John, were “devastated” by the death of the Hortman.

Boelter wore a latex mask and passed an agent to shoot the victims in their homes in the Minneapolis suburbs, before escaping on foot.

Hoffman's statement was shared on Instagram by Minnesota Amy Klobuchar.

“John is being subjected to many surgeries and every hour is closer to being out of danger,” Hoffman wrote.

“He received nine bullet impacts. I received eight and we are both lucky to be alive,” he said.

“We are destroyed and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark. We have no words. There is never a place for this type of political hatred,” he added.

A Facebook post of someone who identified himself as Hoffman's nephew said she had launched her daughter during the murder attempt, “using her body as a shield to save her life.”

According to him Minnesota Star Tribunethe daughter, Hope, about twenty -seventh, was born with Espina Bifida, which, according to her father, motivated him to get involved in state policy.

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