Minnesota lawmaker shooting suspect requests special jail accommodations
The man accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses last month appeared in court on Thursday, requesting special accommodations at the jail where he is being held during legal proceedings. Vance Luther Boelter, 57, asked to be placed in a cell with lights that are not on 24 hours a day and requested a pencil to take notes.
Boelter is accused of dressing as a police officer and shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their home in Champlin at 2 a.m. on June 14. He then allegedly fatally shot former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in Brooklyn Park at 3:30 a.m. Boelter was also reported to have driven an SUV with flashing emergency lights and a license plate that read “police.”
During his court appearance, Boelter wore a yellow Sherburne County Jail outfit and waived his right to preliminary and detention hearings. His public defender mentioned that the prosecution agreed to provide some discovery, and they agreed to proceed with the planned detention hearing.
Boelter faces federal charges of two counts of stalking, two counts of murder, and two counts of firearm-related crimes, as well as second-degree murder charges at the state level. U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson stated that Boelter’s primary motive was to “go out and murder people.”
The next court date is pending, as the case must be presented to a grand jury for indictment within 30 days of Boelter’s arrest on June 15. Boelter’s capture followed a two-day manhunt, with authorities releasing a surveillance photo of the suspect wearing police-like tactical gear.
It is essential to note that Boelter’s requests for accommodations and the details of his court appearances are crucial factors in the ongoing legal proceedings. Stay tuned for further updates as the case progresses.
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