Cops Waited 60+ Minutes Outside Slain Minnesota Lawmaker’s House?: Report

The Brooklyn Park Police Department is disputing claims that officers waited over an hour to enter the home of assassinated former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, as reported by The Blaze.

The department issued a detailed statement pushing back against a Star Tribune report published July 26 that questioned the police response time.

According to federal and local authorities, Vance Luther Boelter forced his way into the Hortman residence at approximately 3:30 a.m. on June 14, fatally shooting both residents.

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Boelter, posing as law enforcement, arrived in a vehicle equipped with emergency lights and dressed in a mask, wig, and tactical gear.

The FBI says Boelter approached the home, rang the doorbell, and announced, “Police! Welfare check!” When Mark Hortman opened the door, Boelter shined a flashlight into his face, claimed there had been gunfire reported, and then began shooting.

What a beautiful statement by the children of Melissa and Mark Hortman who were assassinated by a domestic terrorist:

“We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents, Melissa and Mark. They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe… pic.twitter.com/99Qo6kj4HL

— Michelle Maxwell (@MichelleMaxwell) June 19, 2025

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Brooklyn Park police officers, already in the area due to an earlier shooting involving state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, responded quickly.

When officers arrived, Boelter allegedly opened fire on them, prompting officers to return fire. The department says officers rescued Mark Hortman approximately two minutes after the initial officer-involved shooting occurred.

The department also confirmed that officers did not immediately enter the home but followed policy due to the dangerous and unknown conditions.

“Officers did not violate departmental policy,” the statement read. “With the knowledge officers had at the time, they followed training and policy by not entering the home.”

According to the FBI, Melissa Hortman was shot while fleeing up the stairs during the attack. A drone deployed by officers revealed that she had sustained fatal injuries. Officers entered the home to recover her body only after determining the threat had subsided.

A golden retriever belonging to the family was also found shot and later euthanized due to the severity of its injuries.

Boelter fled the scene, leaving behind a fully equipped black SUV resembling a police vehicle. Inside the SUV, police discovered multiple firearms, tactical gear, and a notebook containing a list of 45 names, including lawmakers, attorneys, and abortion clinic locations.

He was arrested 43 hours later and has since been indicted by a federal grand jury on six felony charges, including murder, attempted murder, and firearms violations. Boelter is scheduled to be arraigned in U.S. District Court on August 7 and is expected to plead not guilty.

BREAKING: Vance Boelter has just been formally indicted on federal charges for the murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman.

Throw the book at him. pic.twitter.com/uzwRpeU0di

— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) July 15, 2025

In jailhouse interviews, Boelter denied political motivations and claimed he had been conducting an undercover investigation into unexplained deaths in Minnesota. Authorities have not confirmed any basis for those claims.

Brooklyn Park Police emphasized that the timeline published by the Star Tribune was based on incomplete and non-public information. “Brooklyn Park officers acted swiftly with courage and bravery in the face of grave danger,” the department said.

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