Officer who shot at Vance Boelter outside Hortman home identified
Officers outside the home of State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Sen. John Hoffman after the shooting, Photo Date: 06/14/2025
On Thursday, the Minnesota BCA released the identity of the officer who fired his gun at Vance Boelter outside the home of Melissa and Mark Hortman on June 14. The BCA says Brooklyn Park Officer Zachary Baumtrog discharged his firearm during a use-of-force encounter with Boelter.
Boelter is accused of fatally shooting the Hortmans, as well as shooting Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette multiple times at their home. The Hoffmans are recovering from their injuries.
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The BCA says Officer Zachary Baumtrog has nine years of law enforcement experience. He has been placed on critical incident leave by the Brooklyn Park Police Department.
According to the agency, Baumtrog and another officer went to the Hortman home just after 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, to check on their welfare after hearing about a shooting at the home of John and Yvette Hoffman in Champlin.
As the officers arrived, they saw a vehicle that looked like a squad car with emergency lights flashing in the Hartman’s driveway. The report says the officers saw a man, now identified as Vance Boelter, dressed as a police officer at the front of the Hortman’s home. Shots were fired, and Officer Baumtrog fired his weapon in response, according to the BCA.
BCA crime scene investigators found spent casings at the scene and report Officer Baumtrog was wearing a body camera during the incident. Officials are still reviewing the video. Due to the ongoing investigation of this incident, no further details are available.
The BCA says it’s investigating the use-of-force incident and will present its findings without recommendation to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.