The wife of the man implicated in the June 14 shooting spree that claimed the life of a prominent Democratic Minnesota lawmaker has expressed her profound shock and heartbreak over the incident.
The violent act, which sparked the largest manhunt in the state's history, left Jennifer Boelter, 51, feeling "completely blindsided."
"This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family," Jennifer Boelter stated. "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 this unfathomable tragedy." She added, "Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time."
Her husband, Vance Luther Boelter, 57, stands accused in federal court of stalking and assassinating Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman; and shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman.
As reported by The Blaze, Jennifer Boelter released a statement through Halberg Criminal Defense, a Bloomington, Minn. law firm. On the morning of the tragic incident, she was driving with her children when she received a call from law enforcement. She immediately drove to meet agents at a nearby gas station, where she willingly cooperated with their inquiries and searches.
An FBI probable-cause affidavit filed in federal criminal court in St. Paul revealed that police found $10,000 in cash, a weapon, ammunition, and passports in the Boelter vehicle. Jennifer Boelter also allowed officers to access her phone, where they discovered a group text from Vance Boelter to the family. The text read, "Dad went to war last night. I dont want to say more because I dont wanna implicate anybody."
In another text to his wife, Vance Boelter warned, "Theres gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I dont want you guys around."
Jennifer Boelter expressed her deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families, stating, "Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are praying daily for them."
Vance Boelter now faces six federal felony charges related to the shooting spree, and will also face state murder charges in Hennepin County, Minn.
The narrative surrounding Vance Boelter took an unexpected turn when the University of Minnesota disclosed that he had worked as a recovery technician removing eyeballs from corpses for about six months. He had also worked in body removals for two area funeral homes. Boelter was employed six days per week between the two employers, according to an undated video posted online.
The FBI reported that during the shooting rampage, Vance Boelter was disguised as a police officer, wearing a realistic-looking silicone mask, and driving a Ford SUV painted like a police vehicle with an emergency light bar.
The Hoffmans were shot a total of 17 times after Boelter allegedly pounded on their front door in the early hours of June 14. Their adult daughter, who was shielded by her mother during the shooting, made the 911 call.
Boelter then allegedly visited the homes of two more Democratic state lawmakers. In New Hope, police noticed the suspects fake police car parked a block away from a senators home. Boelter's alleged final stop was at the Hortman home in Brooklyn Park, where he exchanged gunfire with police before forcing his way inside and killing the Hortmans and their golden retriever.
Vance Boelter was apprehended without incident at 9:15 p.m. on June 15, near his Green Isle home.
A letter left in a vehicle Boelter allegedly abandoned during the manhunt claimed that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had instructed him to kill U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) and others. The letter also alleged that Boelter had been trained by the U.S. military.
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