Authorities have confirmed that the residence of the late Minnesota Democratic state Representative Melissa Hortman experienced a break-in on Tuesday night, just three days following the fatal shooting of Hortman and her husband, Mark, in a politically charged incident.
Brooklyn Park Police reported that the break-in was discovered early Tuesday morning. “At 8:00 AM, we were alerted to an overnight incident at the home of the late State Representative Hortman,” they stated.
Investigators observed that plywood covering a rear window had been removed and the glass was shattered, allowing access to the property. While it appeared that the home had been searched by an intruder, the police noted that the family did not believe any items were missing.
Significantly, police confirmed that “all evidence related to the homicides had been collected” prior to this break-in.
On Sunday night, a suspect known as Vance Luther Boelter, 57, was apprehended following an extensive manhunt. He has been charged with the murders of Hortman and her husband. Authorities allege that Boelter posed as a law enforcement officer to gain access to the couple’s home before committing the shootings.
In a separate attack on the same morning, Boelter is also accused of shooting Minnesota Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Fortunately, the couple is expected to recover from their injuries.
In addition to the attacks on the Hortmans and the Hoffmans, prosecutors revealed that Boelter had also targeted two other Minnesota lawmakers on the same day, allegedly with the intent to kill.
Boelter is facing both state and federal charges stemming from these heinous acts, some of which could potentially result in the death penalty if he is convicted.
