A man accused of murdering a US lawmaker and wounding another while pretending to be a police officer is facing upgraded state charges.
Just a week after Vance Boelter, 57, pleaded not guilty in court, a fresh indictment was announced on Thursday.
In the state case against him, he now faces two charges of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder and charges of impersonating a police officer and animal cruelty for shooting one family’s dog.
Vance Boelter being arrested. Pic: Facebook/ Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office
Hennepin County attorney Mary Moriarty said the charges now “reflect the weight of Mr Boelter’s crimes”.
There is also a federal case against Boelter, where he faces six counts of murder, stalking and firearms violations.
The murder charges could carry the federal death penalty.
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Man suspected of shooting US politicians arrested
In June, there was a manhunt after Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Senator John Hoffman, were shot dead in their Minnesota home.
Police said they responded to gunfire reports at the home of Democrat senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, shortly after 2am and found them with multiple gunshot wounds.
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They then checked on the Hoffmans, who lived nearby, and saw what appeared to be a police car and a man dressed as an officer leaving the front door.
“The individual immediately fired upon the officers, who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home” and escaped on foot, said Brooklyn Park police chief Mark Bruley.
Authorities believe it was Boelter wearing a mask as he posed as a police officer and approached the victims’ front doors. He is also thought to have used a vehicle resembling a squad car.
Several AK-style firearms and a list of about 70 names, which included politicians and abortion rights activists, were allegedly found inside the vehicle later on.
