Vance Boelter’s Friend Reveals More Details About Assassination Suspect

A friend of Vance Boelter, a suspect in the assassination of Minnesota Democratic state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband on Saturday, has revealed his last message to him before the shooting.

Boelter, 57, who was identified by police as a suspect in the shooting on Saturday, reportedly rented a room in the same Minneapolis home as David Carlson, and sent his friend a cryptic text message at 6 a.m. on the day of the incident. Boelter’s listed address is in Green Isle, Minnesota, an hour’s drive away.

Newsweek has contacted the Minnesota State Patrol and Minneapolis Police Department for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Hortman and her husband, Mark, were pronounced dead Saturday morning after a gunman posing as law enforcement arrived at their home in the early hours and shot them both.

The shooter, who remains at large, had targeted the home of another Democratic lawmaker, state Senator John Hoffman, shortly before the attack on the Hortmans. Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot multiple times and have undergone surgery.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the shooting “a politically motivated assassination.”

What To Know

Sitting on the porch of the house that he had shared with Boelter, Carlson read aloud a text message that he received from the suspect at 6 a.m. on Saturday.

The text message, which Carlson read to reporters, said: “David and Ron, I love you guys. I made some choices, and you guys don’t know anything about this, but I’m going to be gone for a while.

“May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn’t gone this way.

“I don’t want to say anything more, I don’t want to say anything more and implicate you in any way, because you guys don’t know anything about this. But I love you guys and I’m sorry for all the trouble he has caused.”

Carlson said that he had known Boelter since fourth grade, and that he was a loving person who did not seem like the type to carry out an assassination.

“He was a loving caring guy, he loved his family, he loved his friends. He loved God. I don’t know why he did what he did. It’s not Vance, no one will believe this, no one that grew up with him, he had lots of friends, trust me. I wish I could have been there to stop him.”

Carlson told KARE 11that Boelter voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, and that he was a “strong supporter.”

However, Carlson said that Boelter had not talked about politics recently, and that he had not given his friends any indication he had an interest in state-level politics or Minnesota lawmakers. There is no indication he is affiliated with a political party.

Minnesota State Patrol said they had found “No Kings” flyers in Boelter’s car, which refers to the thousands of demonstrations that took place throughout the United States on Saturday in protest of President Donald Trump’s policies—in response, further protests across the state were canceled

Multiple groups carried out demonstrations against Trump’s administration and a military parade in Washington D.C. on Saturday, which was also the president’s 79th birthday.

Minnesota Flags at Half-Mast

Walz announced that the flags on all state buildings would fly at half-mast to honor Hortman.

Walz said on Saturday: “Minnesota’s flags will fly at half-staff in honor and remembrance of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. She woke up every morning determined to make Minnesota a better place, and she will be greatly missed.”

What People Are Saying

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz wrote in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter: “Today Minnesota lost a great leader, and I lost a friend. A formidable public servant and a fixture of the state capital, Melissa Hortman woke up every day determined to make our state a better place.

“She served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, and tirelessness. Minnesota’s thoughts are with her loved ones, and my prayers are with Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who were shot and wounded and are being treated.”

What Happens Next

The FBI announced on Saturday they are offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Boelter.

“Anyone with information about these shootings or Boelter’s location should call the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension tip line at 877-996-6222 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us. The public is asked to call 911 immediately if they see Boelter. Do not approach him.”