Minnesota Lawmaker Assassination Plot Revealed in Chilling Hit List and Masked Attack

Vance Boelter, 57, has been charged with killing a Minnesota representative and her husband in a shooting

Federal authorities have revealed a disturbing hit list allegedly compiled by Vance Boelter, the 57-year-old man accused of assassinating Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in a politically motivated attack that also left another state lawmaker and his wife critically injured.

Boelter is facing both state and federal charges, including multiple counts of murder, attempted murder, and domestic terrorism, after he allegedly posed as a police officer wearing a hyper-realistic silicone facemask to carry out the premeditated shootings early Saturday morning. Prosecutors say Boelter meticulously planned his attack, targeting prominent Democrats and abortion-rights supporters.

Melissa Hortman - the top Democrat in the Minnesota House - and her husband, Mark, were killed in the shooting

Court documents revealed that Boelter had compiled a notebook containing the names of 45 individuals, including elected officials, abortion providers, and activists. Included on the list were U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Representative Ilhan Omar, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. Boelter’s notes referenced their advocacy for reproductive rights, with a section labeled "added protections for abortions in MN."

Rep. Hortman was specifically listed in the notebook along with personal details such as her home location, family members, and surveillance notes that read, “Big house off golf course, 2 ways to watch from one spot.” Her husband, Mark, was also listed, and the couple were gunned down in their home.

Chilling notes the alleged assassin carried with him reveal he planned to target other liberal lawmakers and abortion providers

Boelter is also accused of shooting State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, around 2 a.m. on Saturday. He allegedly arrived at their home in a Ford SUV outfitted with police-style lights and a “POLICE” license plate, claiming to be a law enforcement officer. When Yvette questioned the authenticity of his identity, noting the silicone mask, Boelter reportedly announced a robbery and opened fire. Both Hoffman and his wife suffered critical gunshot wounds.

Court filings suggest Boelter attempted to target at least two other state legislators on the same night but was deterred — one was not home, and police presence at the other location interrupted his plans.

Listed in the manifesto as a possible target was MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos

Authorities found multiple notepads at the crime scene listing personal information websites such as PeopleFinders and Spokeo, which Boelter allegedly used to track his targets. Also found were links to websites selling hyper-realistic silicone masks, including one advertising itself as the “premier destination” for such disguises.

Boelter, once appointed to a state committee by Governor Tim Walz, appeared to have been planning the attacks for a long time, federal prosecutors said. A letter addressed to the FBI and signed by “Dr. Vance Luther Boelter” was discovered in his abandoned vehicle, in which he admitted to being the shooter involved in the Minnesota attacks.

US Representative Ilhan Omar, a member of 'the squad,' was also listed

After fleeing the scene on foot, Boelter evaded law enforcement during a massive two-day manhunt. He was eventually located in a rural area of Sibley County after being captured on a resident’s trail camera. Authorities apprehended him in a nearby field, where he surrendered and was taken into custody armed and wearing dark clothing.

Weapons recovered from Boelter’s vehicle included three AK-47 assault rifles, a 9mm handgun, and gear consistent with a disguised police impersonator. Surveillance footage and forensic evidence further support the prosecution's claims of Boelter’s calculated efforts.

Officers had earlier found his abandoned vehicle, with weapons inside

At his first court appearance in federal court in St. Paul on Monday, Boelter claimed financial hardship, stating he only earns $540 a week from a part-time job. Despite admitting ownership of a home, seven vehicles, and up to $30,000 in his bank account, a judge assigned a public defender and ordered him held without bail due to the high flight risk and severity of the charges.

Boelter also faces charges in Hennepin County, where a state judge set bail at $5 million. If convicted on federal murder or terrorism-related charges, Boelter could face the death penalty.

He is currently in the custody of U.S. Marshals and is scheduled to appear again in federal court on June 27.