Minnesota suspect attempted to kill two other state lawmakers, officials say

Minnesota officials say a man accused of killing a democratic state and her husband – and wounded another deputy state and his wife – also tried to kill two legislators in the state.

American lawyer Joseph Thompson said that Vans Luther Powlter, 57, was accused of shooting Melissa Hortmann, a democracy in Minnesota, and her husband, Mark, visited the homes of other legislators in “chilling attacks”.

It was claimed that Mr. Boiler had previously searched the victims and their families, in preparation for a large -scale attack – the police thwarted him.

He appeared before the court on Monday afternoon to face six federal charges.

He may face the death penalty, if convicted.

Mr. Poelet was wearing an orange suit when he arrived at the court in Saint -Paul on Monday afternoon. He said he could not bear the costs of a lawyer and will use the federal defense lawyer.

In a short hearing, Mr. Boelter said he had seven cars, from 20 to 30,000 dollars (14,700-22,100 pounds) in savings and made about $ 540 a week.

At a press conference on the same day, officials spoke through what happened in the early hours of Saturday morning in the outskirts of Minneapolis.

They described how Hortmanz was killed, and John Hoffmann, a member of the Minnesota state, and his wife, Evit Hoffman, were shot several times in a separate attack.

The officials also announced the charges against Mr. Poilter. At the federal level, he faces two accusations of chasing, two murder accusations, and two of the two accusations related to firearms.

Separately, at the state level, Mr. Boelter was accused of two second -class charges and two charges of second -degree murder.

Tomson said that Mr. Poilter arrived at Hoffman’s house disguised as a police officer in a large black car with the Emergency lights on the car. Mr. Poilter was wearing an excessive silicone mask “when the doorbell ran and shouted,” This is the police, open the door. “

Tomson said that the authorities have a clear picture of what happened because Hoffmanz has a security camera outside their front door.

When heovman opened the door, Mr. Politre brightly shone to the spouses. Thomson said that Mr. Poilter told the couple that there was a shooting that was reported at home and lowering his lamp. Then the couple realized that he was not a police officer.

After they tried to push him out, he claimed that he shot the couple several times, then Tomson fled, then fled to the scene. The daughter of the couple called for hope 911.

Evit Hoffman was shot eight times and John Hoffman nine times. Speaking on Sunday, after the arrest of Mr. Builter, state governor Tim Walz said: “The last news is Senator Hoffman, he came out of the final surgery and moves towards recovery.”

Thomson said that after the shooting of Hoffmanz, Mr. Poelter went to the house of another state representative and rang the door there.

Tomson said that the representative of the state was not at home, indicating that she and her family were on vacation. The authorities did not reveal their name.

Thompson said he then went to the third legislator’s house, and also targeted them. The officials did not reveal the name of this legislator in the state. After the press conference, Minnesota State, Annn Rast, issued a statement saying that the suspect was standing near her home on Saturday morning.

“I am very grateful for the heroic work of the new Amal Police Department and its officers,” Ras wrote. “Their quick work saved my life.”

At some point, an officer next to Mr. Poilter set out in his car, Tomson said. The officer assumed that Mr. Builter was a police officer himself, who was sent to the scene to verify one of the legislators.

Tomson said that when the officer, Mr. Poitre, asked what he was doing, he was simply staring forward.

Mr. Builter went to the residence of the fourth legislator – belonging to Melissa Hortmann and her husband – before another attack there.

He is accused of reaching Hortman’s house, and he claims that he shoots and kills the couple. Police said they found it at this headquarters and participated in the fire before Mr. Poileter fled.

After his escape, the officers began searching for two days for Mr. Poileter before finding him late on Sunday night in a tester rural area west of Minneapolis. He surrendered in peace, in the end he crawls towards the officers, according to the police.

Tomson said that Mr. Poilter was “carefully planned to attack him.”

“He made their homes monitoring and recorded notes about their home location,” he said.

When they found the car of Mr. Poilter, officials discovered five other weapons – including rifles similar to the attack, large quantities of ammunition – as well as a list of more than 45 Minnesota states and federal elected officials, including Melissa Hortmann.

Mark Broalli, police chief from Brooklyn Park, said that the officers who arrived at Hortman’s house “thwarted” a greater plan. Broley said: “They took a vehicle (Mr. Poilter) in the first place, which included all his maps, and all his names, all his weapons,” Broley said.

“I will be very afraid of what it will look like in the next few hours, if we did not,” added Mr. Broalli.

“It is a frightening attack on our democracy, on our way in our lives,” Tomson said at the press conference on Monday. “It is only the most recent example of violent political extremism in this country, and this is an increasing trend in recent years, and this is unfortunate.

I hope it is an invitation to wake up to everyone. People can disagree with you without being evil or needing killing or harm. ”

Mr. Boelter is scheduled to return to the court to attend the upcoming hearing on June 27.