Vance Belter, the accused gunman, was described by a close friend as someone who hadn’t shown signs of distress until recently, following his return from a three-year stint in Africa. Just months before he allegedly pointed a weapon at a Minnesota lawmaker and his spouse, he had appeared to lead a rather uneventful life.
Authorities are currently searching for Belter, 57, who reportedly disguised himself as a police officer before injuring state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in their home early on Saturday.
Reports indicate that he is currently evading capture, with his vehicle found near his residence, and neighbors hearing gunfire at the time of the incident.
Despite his quiet persona, those who knew him were surprised by his potential involvement in such violence. After his time in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Belter claimed to have expanded his business interests through his security company, Red Lion Group, yet friends questioned the validity of those claims.
One friend remarked, “It seemed like he wasn’t quite the same after he got back. He was struggling, but I thought it was just adjustment issues.” Another friend mentioned, “He never really ran a security company; it just didn’t add up.” They noted that Belter had two company cars but didn’t seem to have any clients or employees.
While his LinkedIn profile highlights an affiliation with various businesses and a supposed role in a non-profit for African immigrants, the organization denies ever working with him. In a now-deleted post, Belter had even expressed a desire to find a job in the food service industry after returning from Africa.
His acquaintances noted that he had engaged with local communities during his time abroad, trying to help villagers with fishing and even owning equipment for that purpose, though the depth of his connection to them seemed questionable.
Additionally, he appeared linked to another venture called Praetorian Guard Security Services, but the details surrounding it raised eyebrows. After the incident, his wife, Jenny, was briefly detained while driving a car with suspicious items but was not charged.
As of Sunday afternoon, Belter remains at large, and police investigations are ongoing in Sibley County, where his abandoned vehicle and personal items were recovered. Just hours after the shootings, Belter sent alarming text messages to friends indicating he felt remorse for the chaos he had caused.
A local resident, Brian Leavard, recounted hearing gunshots in the early morning hours, expressing disbelief over the event and suggesting that he thought authorities should have captured Belter by now. When pressed about his own safety, he shrugged it off, suggesting that perhaps Belter was indeed orchestrating a diversion.
