Vance Boelter, Minnesota Shooting Suspect, Touted False Security Expertise

June 16, 2025 – Vance Luther Boelter, the 57-year-old suspect in the politically motivated shootings of Minnesota lawmakers, falsely portrayed himself as a seasoned security professional with experience in conflict zones, a claim now debunked as a “fantasy” by a friend, per NPR. Boelter, wanted for killing State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounding State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, on June 14, remains at large.

Boelter’s online profiles, including a website for Praetorian Guard Security Services, LLC, where he was listed as director of security patrols, claimed training from U.S. military and private firms, with work in Gaza, Africa, and the Middle East. NPR’s review found little evidence, revealing his career was primarily in food service, working for companies like Johnsonville Sausage and Del Monte. His roommate, Daniel Carlson, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that Boelter’s plan to launch a security firm, complete with police-style SUVs, never materialized, calling it a “fantasy.”

Boelter’s vehicle, resembling a police SUV, was found in Sibley County, 50 miles from Minneapolis, on June 15, containing a manifesto targeting nearly 70 Democrats, including abortion rights advocates like Governor Tim Walz and Senator Tina Smith, per ABC News. He texted Carlson post-attack, saying, “I’ve made some choices… I may be dead shortly,” per Reuters. Boelter’s evangelical ties, including missionary work in Gaza, and his opposition to abortion rights, noted by Carlson, are under investigation.

The FBI offers a $50,000 reward for Boelter’s capture, warning he’s armed and dangerous. The manhunt, centered in Green Isle, continues as Minnesota mourns.