The Brooklyn Park Police Department has stated that officers were not permitted to enter the residence of the former House Speaker, where a shooting occurred over an hour after she and her husband were fatally shot, as reported by a Minnesota newspaper.
According to the FBI, Vance Boerter, the assailant, drove to Melissa and Mark Hortman’s home around 3:30 AM on June 14, attempting to gain entry and subsequently targeting Melissa. Boerter was apprehended 43 hours later.
“Brooklyn Park officials demonstrated courage and acted swiftly,” a representative declared.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Brooklyn Park officials accused Boerter of breaching department protocols by not entering the Hortman residence for over an hour after the shooting occurred.
The police department countered this claim, asserting that their reporting was inaccurate.
“Officers adhered to departmental guidelines. They managed to rescue Mark Hortman at the door approximately two minutes after the shooting,” the department clarified in a statement. “At that moment, they sought to gather operational intelligence and followed training protocols by not entering the home.”
In light of an incident where State Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse were shot at their residence shortly before, officers were dispatched to check on the Hortmans. Upon arrival, they encountered Boerter, who was later confirmed to be at the front door engaging with Mark.
The FBI noted that Boerter had parked a fake police vehicle in the Hortman driveway, wearing what appeared to be a silicone mask and a wig. Upon ringing the doorbell, he shined a tactical flashlight in Mark Hortman’s face, announcing an incident concerning shots fired.
“When Mr. Hortman opened the door, Boerter was standing about six feet away, shining the flashlight in his eyes. Mr. Hortman claimed ignorance of any shooting, exclaiming, ‘Good God, I was asleep!’
Related quotes included remarks about Minnesota assassins, suggesting a climate of fear.
The FBI’s account indicates that as Boerter engaged with the officers, he suddenly opened fire on Mark Hortman, attempting to pull him inside the home.
A flash of light visible through a window coincided with the shooting of Melissa Hortman, who, upon noticing the danger, attempted to flee upstairs before being shot multiple times.
Officers utilized drones to assess the situation and noted that Melissa’s injuries were likely fatal upon their visual inspection, according to the department’s reports.
“Drones were used to survey the area and discover Melissa Hortman. Tragically, her injuries were incompatible with life. It was only then that officers entered the residence to retrieve her,” the department stated.
They announced that recent reports misrepresented the sharing of private data during the investigation.
“The timelines presented in a recent article by the Minnesota Star Tribune seem to have originated from those lacking direct knowledge of the facts and circumstances from June 14,” the report continued. “Brooklyn Park officials acted decisively under significant peril.”
In an unprecedented move, Boerter’s suspected behavior has left many questions unanswered. He has claimed, in various interactions with the media, that his hostility was unrelated to his support for political figures.
After being charged with multiple felonies, including murder and firearm offenses, Boerter’s next court date was moved up from September 12 to August 7. He is expected to plead not guilty in the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.
