As a massive human hunt continues for Vance Boelter, the authorities are gathering a profile of the alleged armed man accused of killing a Democratic legislator from Minnesota and hurting another in two “politically motivated” shootings separated on Saturday morning.
The state representative Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park and her husband, Mark, were killed in a shooting, and state senator John Hoffman of Champlin and his wife, Yvette, were seriously injured in another. Hoffman and his wife remain hospitalized.
The authorities say that Boelter passed the police to obtain access to the households of the legislators. The photos, which are believed to be from Boelter, show a man in one of the victim’s doors with a long -sleeved shirt and what looks like a bulletproof vest similar to those used by the police. Another photo shows a man with a cowboy hat alone.
The authorities found what they believe is their vehicle and their cowboy hat in Sibley County, where an emergency alert has been issued so that residents in the area keep their doors closed and secured cars, Kare 11 of the NBC subsidiary reported.
He is married and has five children
The Minnesota Public Security Commissioner, Bob Jacobson, identified Boelter, 57, such as the suspect in the shootings, describing him as 6 feet 1 with brown hair, with a light -colored cowboy hat and a dark -sleeved shirt or coat of a dark long -sleeved necklace. Jacobson urged the public not to approach Boelter if they see him, adding that he is “armed and dangerous.” During a press conference on Saturday, the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, said the shootings were “politically motivated.”
According to a video that circulates online, Boelter is married and father of five children. His wife, who has not been identified, was arrested by the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s office on Saturday morning in Onamia, Minnesota, as part of a perimeter stop. There were “other relatives”, in the car, according to the Sheriff’s office and no one in the vehicle was interrogated or wanted.
He worked in Africa
In a 2022 video posted on Facebook and verified by NBC News, Minnesota Africans United presented a person presented as Vance Boelter during a discussion on trade and investment opportunities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As the main presenter, Boelter said he was calling from the RDC and talked about his work in association with farmers and fishermen in the country to help them stimulate their food supply system.
In a statement shared with NBC News, a spokesman for Minnesota Africans United said “there is no connection between Minnesota United Africans and the individual who carried out the murders and attacks” about Hortman, Hoffman and his spouses.
He spoke in the church sermons
Boelter delivered church sermons in the RDC in 2021, 2022 and 2023, according to live broadcasts published on Facebook authenticated by NBC News. In the 2021 speech, he began with a prayer and then talked about his way to become a better Christian.
Boelter reported working in a vegetable management factory at age 17 with a co -worker who “spoke of God all the time”, ultimately inspiring him to take his religion more seriously.
In a moment during his testimony, Boelter fell to his knees when he described the moment he dedicated his life to Jesus.
“And I said ‘I’m very sorry, forgive me to God, for living for me, and not for you,” he said. “And I said ‘Jesus, if you forgive me from my sin and save me, I will live for you for the rest of my life’.”
Worked for two funeral home
In a video of curriculum that circulates online, Boelter presents himself as a five -year married father of Green isle, Minnesota, who works for two funeral homes, Wulff Funeral Home and Metro First Call, handling what he called “removities.”
“Fun data about me, I have been in the food industry for about 30 years and that led to a chance. I was invited to the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” he said in the video, adding that he worked with Mount Foods and the chicken producer with headquarters in Minnesota Gold’n Plump.
Boelter explained that he left the food industry because his company “was not interested in doing anything in Africa,” then made the transition to the funeral home while carrying out projects in Africa on his own.
Boelter mentioned in the video that he was taking a course to learn more about the funeral industry, indicating that he may have been recorded for the class. The time of the video, engraved using the screenpal screen recording software, It remains unclear.
In a statement, Tim Koch, the owner of Metro First Call, said Boelter worked for the company from August 2023 until “he voluntarily” in February of this year.
“Saying something else at this time would be irresponsible as the investigation continues,” Koch said.
A roommate described him as “a loving and affectionate guy”
Boelter’s fellow, who was not identified, spoke with NBC Kare 11 affiliate about him.
“I mean, he was a loving and affectionate guy, you know,” the man told The Outlet. “He loved his family, he loved his friends and loved God, and I don’t know why he did what he did. It’s fair, it’s no Vance. Nobody will believe this.”
The fourth partner said he received a final message from Boelter around 6 in the morning on Saturday in which he said “could be dead shortly.”
“So, I just want to let them know that I love them both, and I would like it to have not gone in this way,” “I don’t want to say anything else and get involved in any way, because you know nothing about this. But I love you, and regret all the problems that this has caused.”
It is not clear at this time if the fourth partner lived with Boelter and his family, or if Boelter had been living separately from his family with the fourth partner.
Anyone who sees Boelter is encouraged to call 911. The FBI offers a $ 50,000 reward for information that leads to Boelter arrest.
