Minnesota Reels as Boelter’s Claims of Military Training and Walz’s Directive Surface in FBI Letter

MINNEAPOLIS — Vance Luther Boelter, the 57-year-old suspect in the targeted shootings of Minnesota lawmakers, has sent shockwaves through the state with a handwritten letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel. Found in Boelter’s abandoned vehicle after a two-day manhunt, the letter alleges that Governor Tim Walz instructed him to assassinate U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar to pave the way for Walz to run for her Senate seat. The letter, described as one-and-a-half pages long and difficult to read, also claims Boelter was secretly trained by the U.S. military “off the books” for such operations.

Boelter, arrested on June 16, 2025, following the largest manhunt in Minnesota history, is charged with the murder of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the attempted murder of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. The shootings, which took place on June 14, targeted Democratic lawmakers in the Minneapolis suburbs of Brooklyn Park and Champlin. Boelter allegedly posed as a police officer, wearing a hyper-realistic silicone mask and driving a modified Ford SUV resembling a police vehicle, complete with emergency lights.

The letter, uncovered in a Buick sedan Boelter abandoned along Highway 25 in Belle Plaine, provides a chilling glimpse into his mindset. According to sources familiar with its contents, Boelter claimed Walz, a former Democratic vice-presidential candidate, personally directed him to kill Klobuchar and others. The letter also details Boelter’s supposed military training, which he alleged was conducted covertly to prepare him for high-stakes missions. While the letter’s coherence has been questioned, its allegations have ignited intense speculation and debate across Minnesota.

Boelter’s actions began around 2 a.m. on June 14, when he allegedly shot John and Yvette Hoffman at their Champlin home, leaving both critically injured but alive. Security footage captured Boelter, dressed in tactical gear and a silicone mask, announcing himself as police before forcing entry. Roughly 90 minutes later, he arrived at the Hortman residence in Brooklyn Park, where he fatally shot Melissa and Mark Hortman and their dog, Gilbert. Brooklyn Park police, dispatched for a welfare check, exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who fled out the back door, leaving behind a 9mm Beretta, body armor, and his mask.

A notebook found in Boelter’s fake police vehicle contained a hit list of approximately 70 names, including prominent Democrats like Walz, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, U.S. Senator Tina Smith, and Attorney General Keith Ellison, alongside abortion providers and pro-choice advocates. Boelter’s visits to the homes of two other lawmakers—State Representative Kristin Bahner and State Senator Ann Rest—were thwarted, with Bahner on vacation and Rest saved by a timely police patrol.

Boelter, a former appointee to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board under Walz in 2019, has a complex background. He served as director of security patrols for Praetorian Guard Security Services, a firm he co-founded with his wife, Jenny, and claimed experience in security operations across the Middle East and Africa. His online biography touted military training, though specifics remain unverified. A self-described “prepper,” Boelter reportedly left a “bailout plan” for his family, including cash, passports, and weapons found in Jenny’s vehicle during a traffic stop on June 14.

Governor Walz, speaking at a June 15 press conference, called the shootings a “politically motivated assassination” and praised law enforcement’s efforts. His office has not directly addressed the letter’s allegations, with a spokesperson stating only that the tragedy is “deeply disturbing for all Minnesotans” and expressing gratitude to prosecutors. Senator Klobuchar, targeted in Boelter’s alleged plot, said, “Boelter is a very dangerous man, and I am deeply grateful that law enforcement got him behind bars before he killed other people.”

Boelter faces state charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder, with Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty seeking first-degree murder charges. Federal charges include stalking, murder, and firearms violations, making him eligible for the death penalty. As Minnesota grapples with the fallout, questions swirl about Boelter’s motives, his alleged ties to Walz, and whether he acted alone. The letter, now a focal point of the investigation, has deepened the state’s unease, casting a shadow over its political landscape.