'Senseless Violence Came To My Door': Vance Boelter Visited Rep. Bahner's Home

MAPLE GROVE, MN — State Rep. Kristin Bahner was one of four lawmakers whose home was visited early Saturday morning by Vance Boelter, the gunman who authorities say disguised himself as a police officer and traveled with a list of Democrat politicians’ names across the northwest suburbs in a crime spree that ended in death.

“The past several days have been surrounded by so much grief and fear,” Bahner said Wednesday in a social media post.

Boelter faces state and federal charges after he killed state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, during the violent rampage, according to authorities.

“This senseless violence came to my door as well, placing me and my family in harm’s way," Bahner said. "I do not know why this man was filled with such hatred that he would come to my door; divine intervention led my family to change our plans keeping us safe.”

Boelter's multi-city spree began in Champlin at the Hoffman home, where the Hoffmans’ daughter called 911 shortly after 2 a.m. to report her parents had been shot, according to the criminal complaint against Boelter.

He then traveled to what has since been revealed to be Bahner’s home in Maple Grove, where surveillance cameras captured him repeatedly ringing the doorbell shortly before 2:30 a.m. and eventually leaving, according to the complaint. The family was on vacation and not home, authorities said.

Boelter was next seen in New Hope, where an officer sent to check on the home of an elected official in the area saw him not long after 2:30 a.m. in a black SUV down the street from that official’s residence, according to the complaint.

His vehicle resembled a squad car with a police-style light bar, and the officer thought he was at the home to protect the official, although he did not respond to the officer when she tried to speak with him, the complaint said. She left him and went to the residence to find no sign of distress, according to the complaint, and by the time additional officers joined her, he had left the area.

Democrat state Sen. Ann Rest said she was told the suspect parked near her home early Saturday. She said in a statement that the "quick action" of law enforcement officers saved her life.

Boelter’s last stop was in Brooklyn Park, where law enforcement arrived at the Hortman home around 3:30 a.m. to see him firing into the house, injuring Mark and Melissa Hortman as well as the family dog, all of whom died, according to the complaint.

He fled on foot and was taken into custody Sunday evening in rural Green Isle, bringing an end to the largest manhunt in state history, authorities said.

Bahner in her social media post described Melissa Hortman as a “leader, mentor and friend” and thanked the Maple Grove Police Department “for their excellent care allowing us to continue to feel safe in our home.”

“I know for my part my resolve to honor her legacy by serving my state and my community remains steadfast, and unwavering,” Bahner said of Hortman. “My response to bad trouble visiting my door will be met with good trouble. I will continue to lead for my community and work to improve the lives of all Minnesotans. We will not let fear or division win. Melissa has set a high bar, placing the work in our hands to make the world a better place.”