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A man from Minnesota who stands accused of killing a lawmaker and her husband, as well as injuring another lawmaker and his wife while impersonating a police officer, had a significant security background. This has led to inquiries regarding his ability to obtain weapons and law enforcement attire, with authorities deeming the incidents as targeted attacks.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is facing charges related to the alleged murder of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Additionally, he is accused of shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in separate occurrences that took place early on a Saturday morning.
Boelter reportedly showed up at the residences of both lawmakers in attire resembling law enforcement, driving a black SUV equipped with flashing emergency lights. The vehicle’s license plate bore the word “police,” further adding to the authenticity of his appearance.
“Boelter wore a black tactical vest and body armor. He carried a flashlight and a Beretta 9 mm handgun,” Thompson said. He also wore a hyper-realistic silicon mask. Senator Hoffman had a security camera. I’ve seen the footage from that camera, and it is chilling. Boelter knocked on Senator Hoffman’s front door, and repeatedly shouted, ‘This is police. Open the door.'” (DOJ)
However, Stanton pointed to the improbability of an individual going to the lengths of impersonating a police officer to commit a crime, suggesting Boelter allegedly did so because of his high-profile targets.
“The odds of someone perpetuating themselves as a false cop are so rare [that] the odds are much greater that you’re going to get straight up mugged, robbed or burglarized,” Stanton said, adding, “The fact that this was politically motivated and someone went to such obsessive means to achieve their end, that’s why this isn’t an everyday occurrence.”
While the odds of being approached by a fake officer are lower than being victimized by other crimes, Stanton stresses that there are ways to stay safe if an individual appears suspicious, such as calling the police to confirm an officer’s identity before engaging or driving to a police station while being pulled over.
“We see videos of thugs trying to kick in the door with a mask or a hoodie on,” Stanton said. “That’s what’s going to happen a lot sooner than someone identifying themselves as a cop. So be prepared, not scared, and have your situational awareness of security.”
Boelter is charged with two counts of stalking, two counts of murder and two counts of firearm-related crimes in federal court. He is also facing second-degree murder charges on the state level.
