Brooklyn Park police are currently investigating a break-in at the home of Minnesota Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was fatally shot in a targeted attack at their home over the weekend. The break-in occurred on Tuesday night, with preliminary reports indicating that an intruder entered through a broken window but did not appear to have taken anything from the home. Authorities were alerted to the incident at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning, prompting an immediate investigation.
The home showed signs that it had been searched, though family members told police that nothing appeared to be missing. Crime scene investigators have since reprocessed the home following the break-in to look for any evidence of burglary that may have been overlooked during the initial investigation. The break-in is being treated as a separate incident from the targeted attack that resulted in the murders of Hortman and her husband, as well as the nearby home of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.
Authorities also noted that the home was boarded up after the murders and released back to the family earlier this week. While the family removed valuables from the home on Tuesday, no further details have been provided about the items taken or any specific motives behind the break-in. The investigation into the matter is ongoing, with authorities continuing to process the crime scene for any new evidence that may emerge.
In addition to the break-in, authorities have confirmed that Vance Boelter, 57, 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. U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson stated that Boelter’s primary motive was