# Breaking news: Minnesota assassin targeting Democrats 2025-06-14 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [June 14, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626 "2025-06-14T14:07:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/41 "2025-06-14T20:51:30Z")
What I consider interesting is that local police knew to connect the dots after the first murder and check on other possible targets (if I read the reports correctly the manifesto and list were only found on the second scene). It seems that they were aware political assassination was in the air ☹ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/42 "2025-06-14T21:04:00Z")
That is a disturbing thought. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/43 "2025-06-14T21:04:22Z")
I read that the Hortman check was “proactive.” Since Yvette Hoffman wasn’t as badly hit as the others (reports say that she threw herself on top of their daughter to protect her), it’s possible she said something that prompted it. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/44 "2025-06-14T21:13:27Z")
> [@Mops](#): > > It seems that they were aware political assassination was in the air Eh…not so sure. If they did they would have at least warned those people of the threat. I think it is just good policing. Someone was shot in their home. Why? Was it someone with a particular beef against them (e.g. jilted lover)? Was it a random home invasion? Possible but seems unlikely absent any other evidence. Something else? Given the people targeted it seems not too far of a stretch to think it was politically motivated. Is there anyone else in the neighborhood who are also politicians of the same party? Maybe it is worth a few minutes to check on them and warn them of a possible threat. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/45 "2025-06-14T21:40:35Z")
I expect the story is simple: after the first attack the victims called 811: “I’m Rep Jones. We just suffered a home invasion & shootings. Send ambulances. The bad guy was shouting about killing all the D legislators he could find. Send help now!!!” ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/46 "2025-06-14T23:19:50Z")
According to the police chief in the video linked above in post #15, a “very intuitive sergeant” heard that the first shooting had happened in a neighboring jurisdiction and asked officers to check on the Hartmann’s home. So, yes, good police work to make that connection and act on it quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/47 "2025-06-14T23:23:45Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I heard that Hortman and maybe Hoffman were members of the Democratic Farmer Labor Party. That’s just the Minnesota name for the Democratic Party. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/48 "2025-06-15T02:50:52Z")
The search for the shooter has [expanded to South Dakota.](https://www.startribune.com/brooklyn-park-police-searching-for-suspect-in-multiple-targeted-shootings/601372993) And he’s not alone. > 6:15 p.m. - Mitchell Regional Public Safety dispatch in South Dakota issued a “Be on the Lookout” for a maroon Buick at 4:35 p.m., saying the driver is a “person of interest in the events that have happened in Minnesota” and may be traveling with “the person that was involved in the homicide considered armed and dangerous.” ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/49 "2025-06-15T02:58:36Z")
This is sounding more and more like the plot of a Coen Brothers movie. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/50 "2025-06-15T13:29:36Z")
[According to the website for his company, Praetorian Guard Security Services, [he] is listed as director of security patrols, while his wife is listed as president and CEO.](https://fortune.com/2025/06/14/minnesota-shooting-suspect-vance-boelter-praetorian-guard-security-services-red-lion/) If you know anything about Roman history, Praetorian Guard is a disturbing name for a company. They were known for doing just the sort of thing he is suspected of. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/51 "2025-06-15T14:10:19Z")
Have we heard anything about what’s in his manifesto? He is reported to have had No Kings fliers, so I wonder what that’s all about too. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/52 "2025-06-15T14:40:27Z")
The No Kings fliers they’ve shown so far look like nothing more than “NO KINGS” written on copy paper with a Sharpie. Initial reports said he had several prominent Democratic politicians on his list, along with some unnamed abortion providers. This is reminding me of Eric Rudolph… it sounds like guy has some people who believe in his “mission” and are more than happy to hide him. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/53 "2025-06-15T14:43:09Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I think it will be very important to hear him offer his reasons for doing this. Because he was an appointee of Gov. Walz, who is a Democrat, I am already seeing posts on FB and elsewhere by MAGAts that this is not MAGA related and probably a false flag. So far nothing appears to support such rhetoric. The version I heard was that he was targeting Democratic Party leaders for pragmatically voting for legislation that caved to the Republicans on several points. Another version as of this A.M. is that his primary motivation is anti-abortion, a movement known for its militant nuts well before Trump and MAGA. While the supposition that the shooter is aligned/sympathetic with current right-wing national politics is reasonable and may well turn out to be the case, we don’t actually know yet. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/54 "2025-06-15T15:05:06Z")
Anyone else surprised to hear that he has a wife? (Especially if he is in his 50s and also has housemates.) And where is she in all this? I feel that more details of his personal life are going to be relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/55 "2025-06-15T15:15:42Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > > > I think it will be very important to hear him offer his reasons for doing this. Because he was an appointee of Gov. Walz, who is a Democrat, I am already seeing posts on FB and elsewhere by MAGAts that this is not MAGA related and probably a false flag. So far nothing appears to support such rhetoric. > > The version I heard was that he was targeting Democratic Party leaders for pragmatically voting for legislation that caved to the Republicans on several points. Another version as of this A.M. is that his primary motivation is anti-abortion, a movement known for its militant nuts well before Trump and MAGA. While the supposition that the shooter is aligned/sympathetic with current right-wing national politics is reasonable and may well turn out to be the case, we don’t actually know yet. I’m pretty sure he’s not a “leftist” targeting Democrats that aren’t leftist enough. He looks to be another right wing overcompensating snowflake to me. Here’s a link to the webpage of the private security company he runs. I’m actually sort of surprised that this is still up. > **[Services | Praetorian Guard Security Services](https://www.pguards.net/services)** His company seems geared to other fearful snowflakes, people who think they need to pay thousand of dollars a month mostly for “assurance” that they’ll be protected during “social unrest”. He seems to me to be an Erik Prince wannabe. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/56 "2025-06-15T15:22:17Z")
A minor factual question: How much work would it be for a member of the public to get the home addresses of Minnesota Respresentatives? (I assume this information is neither published nor secret.) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/57 "2025-06-15T15:43:28Z")
Seems to be down now ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/58 "2025-06-15T15:48:07Z")
> [@Mops](#): > > A minor factual question: How much work would it be for a member of the public to get the home addresses of Minnesota Respresentatives? (I assume this information is neither published nor secret.) The suspect had been a political appointee to a state board for several years. I suppose it’s possible that he managed to gain access to information which wasn’t publicly available. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/59 "2025-06-15T15:59:14Z")
Well, reports are that one of the responding police officers (the actual police), on realizing that the first victim was a state legislator, did a wellness check on the other legislator. Which implies that that officer, at least, knew at least something about where the legislators lived, and had access to the exact addresses. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626/60 "2025-06-15T16:10:55Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Seems to be down now Hmmmm……….link still works for me, maybe my device archived it or something. Try this internet archive link……. I set it to the page that describes the membership plans because it’s the most interesting and the navigation on this link is slow. > **[Membership Pricing | Praetorian Guard Security Services](https://web.archive.org/web/20250615015134/https://www.pguards.net/membership-pricing)** What’s kind of frightening is that this guy didn’t seem to be delusional or a Qanon nutter, he seemed to be a respected community member. And I’m kind of freaked out by the fact that this guy had a 70 person hit list. I have a friend that is active in DFL leadership in the area ( I’m not giving any more detail ) and he just deleted all his social media, I’m not really sure what going on but it’s kind of scary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-minnesota-assassin-targeting-democrats-2025-06-14/1019626.md?page=4)