A man believed to be the close friend and roommate of political assassin Vance Bolter reported receiving a chilling final text from Bolter. The message, sent around 6 AM Saturday, arrived shortly after the murders of former Democratic Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as Senator John Hoffman and his wife.
In his text, Bolter professed his love and indicated he would soon die, according to the local boyfriend’s account.
Immediately worried about Bolter’s safety, David Carlson contacted the authorities, suspecting that his friend might have harmed himself.
At 59, Carlson expressed disbelief that the friend he had known since fourth grade could be linked to such brutal crimes. “He wasn’t someone you’d expect to hate,” Carlson noted, adding, “But he needs help.”
Carlson revealed that Bolter, who has been involved in various business endeavors like Praetorian Security and Red Lion Group, has faced significant financial challenges lately. “He was looking around for opportunities, but maybe things just fell through, and he decided to… well, go out in a blaze,” Carlson remarked, pondering Bolter’s state of mind.
When discussing Bolter’s political views, Carlson mentioned that he had voted for Donald Trump, even though he was a political appointee serving under Democratic Governor Tim Walz. However, Carlson was not fully aware of Bolter’s political leanings.
While Bolter was identified as being strongly anti-abortion, his friends suggested this view alone didn’t account for any violent tendencies. “That’s not what defined him,” Carlson explained. “He had other interests and passions.”
According to Carlson, Bolter spent several days a week at their home in northern Minneapolis, and authorities had not yet executed a search warrant as of Saturday.
Police were first called to Senator Hoffman’s residence at 2:08 AM, following up at 3:35 AM. Bolter remained at large, with warnings issued for residents to be cautious, as he was armed and considered dangerous.
