Donations pour in for Minnesota politicians shot their homes

One week after accused political assassin Vance Luther Boelter’s vicious attacks on Minnesota lawmakers, online fundraisers for the victims and their families have racked up nearly $400,000.

On Monday – two days after Boelter, 57, allegedly shot state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in their Champlin home – the Fernbrook Elementary School PTO launched a “Help the Hoffmans” GoFundMe page, which had raised $184,974 of its $210,000 goal by Friday. 

The proceeds will contribute to medical expenses and rehabilitation costs, lost income, home security enhancements and necessary living expenses, according to the fundraiser page. 

“We hope by launching this campaign we can alleviate the burden of costs during this challenging time,” it reads. 

Yvette, who was shot eight times during the early-morning ambush, was released from the hospital Thursday, while the senator, who was shot nine times, remained in critical but stable condition, a hospital spokesperson told Minnesota news outlets. 

In their first words Thursday, the Hoffmans thanked the GoFundMe donors for “helping us pick up the broken pieces of our lives.” 

They were “heartbroken” that Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in the attacks, and noted that their daughter, Hope, once went to school with the Hortmans’ daughter, Sophie. 

“We know that they – along with Colin Hortman – will have each other’s support as we all work through the devastating consequences of that horrific night,” the Hoffmans wrote. 

A GoFundMe for the adult Hortman children – which was created Sunday by Melissa’s brother, Patrick Haluptzok – had raised $195,137 of its $200,000 goal as of Friday. 

“I greatly miss my sister Melissa and brother-in-law Mark and want to help my niece and nephew through this difficult time,” Haluptzok wrote in the fundraiser’s description. 

Sophie and Colin are “devastated and heartbroken” by their parents’ murders, they said in a statement released this week. 

“They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe they are gone. Their love for us was boundless. We miss them so much,” they wrote.

Boelter faces federal stalking and murder charges for allegedly hunting down the lawmakers and their spouses in the North Star State. He has not entered a plea in the case. Cops said he had a cache of automatic weapons in his car and a hit list of 45 elected officials and abortion providers in the state.