The wife of the man accused of fatally shooting a Minnesota lawmaker spoke out for the first time Thursday, calling the attack that killed two people and wounded two others "a betrayal."
Vance Boelter, 57, is facing state and federal charges in connection with two June 14 shootings at the homes of Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman.
Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in the shooting at their Brooklyn Park home. About 90 minutes away, authorities say that Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were wounded in their Champlin home. Boelter was arrested in a Green Isle field two days later, after what officials have called the largest manhunt in Minnesota history.
Jenny Boelter, in a statement released by her lawyers, said she and her children wanted to express their "deepest sympathies" to the Hortman and Hoffman families and "all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time."
"We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided," she said. "This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we hold true as tenets of our Christian Faith. We are appalled and horrified by what occurred, and our hearts are incredibly heavy for the victims of the unfathomable tragedy."
Boelter added that her family has "fully cooperated with investigators and responded to their every request" from the moment they were first contacted by law enforcement on the morning of June 14. After the call, she said she "immediately drove to meet agents at a nearby gas station."
"We were not pulled over; we parked and waited until they arrived," Boelter said in the statement, adding that their cooperation has included providing items and allowing searches. "We are grateful for the diligent and professional efforts of the authorities to fully investigate these crimes. We thank law enforcement for apprehending Vance and protecting others from further harm."
Some of Boelter's comments appear to be at odds with a law enforcement account of their initial contact with her.
In an application for a search warrant, a state law enforcement official said that when authorities first spoke with Boelter at 10 a.m. June 14, she was initially "not forthcoming with knowledge of her husband being involved in something serious" — even though he had messaged her earlier that day and said “there maybe people with guns coming to the house.”
After she talked with a special agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the search warrant application says, Boelter revealed her husband’s text messages and said that he'd told her to go her parents' home. According to a criminal complaint, one of the texts "stated something to the effect of they should prepare for war."
Boelter's mother's home was the family's "bailout plan" — or a place to go in case of an emergency — according to the criminal complaint, which describes the couple as "preppers." After Boelter had stopped and was being questioned by authorities, they searched her car and found a safe containing at least $10,000 in cash, two guns and passports for the family.
She has not been charged with any crimes.
Prosecutors allege that Vance Boelter, disguised as a law enforcement officer, "stalked his victims like prey" and planned the attacks before opening fire at the homes of the two lawmakers.
According to an affidavit, Boelter arrived at the Hoffmans' home around 2 a.m. that Saturday in his SUV equipped with law enforcement-style lights. Equipped with a “hyper-realistic” flesh-colored silicone mask and a tactical vest, Boelter allegedly shined a flashlight into their front door and shouted, "This is the police! Open the door," and the couple answered.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Joseph Thompson said earlier this month that Boelter told the Hoffmans that there was a shooting reported in the home and asked if they had weapons. When he lowered the flashlight, the couple realized he was not an officer before Boelter allegedly tried to force himself into their home.
The affidavit states that Hoffman tried to push Boelter outside, prompting Boelter to shoot at the lawmaker and his wife repeatedly. Their daughter called 911 at 2:09 am, and officers transported the Hoffmans to the hospital.
Authorities say that Boelter drove to the homes of two other public officials before arriving at the Hortmans' house in Brooklyn Park around 3:30 a.m. At the time, two officers were dispatched to conduct a wellness check on their home and arrived just as Boelter was standing in front of it, officials said.
The affidavit states that Boelter allegedly fired several shots into the home "as he moved forward, entering the Hortmans’ home." A second set of gunshots could also be heard from inside the house. Authorities say the couple and their family dog were fatally shot.
Boelter fled the home soon after, sparking a manhunt that ended about 36 hours later.
"We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents, Melissa and Mark. They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe they are gone. Their love for us was boundless. We miss them so much,” Hortmans’ adult children, Sophie and Colin Hortman, said in a statement.
