On June 15, 2025, after an exhaustive two-day manhunt, Minnesota authorities apprehended Vance Boelter, a 57-year-old man charged with the shocking murder of Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota House Democratic leader, and her husband. The incident took place in their home and also left another state senator and his spouse with serious injuries. Boelter reportedly disguised himself as a police officer and targeted the homes of several Minnesota politicians late on the evening of June 13. Inside his parked car, investigators discovered a disturbing list containing the names and addresses of various state and federal elected officials, alongside community leaders and Planned Parenthood locations.
This tragic event underscores a growing trend of political violence in America, often fueled by hate. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota condemned the attack, stating in a June 14 statement, “Let me be absolutely clear: this was an act of targeted political violence, and it was an attack on everything we stand for as a democracy.” The threat of domestic terrorism is alarmingly high in the United States, particularly from white power extremists, who harbor fears of being “replaced” by people of color. This growing threat was explored in depth in my 2021 book, “It Can Happen Here: White Power and the Rising Threat of Genocide in the US.”
As a scholar in the field of political violence and extremism, I believe it’s crucial to analyze the lessons from events such as the Minnesota shootings. Years of research reveal that extremists typically operate within networks of like-minded individuals rather than as isolated “lone wolves.” Yet, the persistent myth of the lone wolf continues to emerge in media discussions following mass shootings or acts of far-right violence. This narrative misguides public understanding of the actual causes of extremist violence, hindering society's ability to prevent future attacks.
FBI Director Christopher Wray stated in August 2022 that the most significant threat to the nation comes from far-right extremist “lone actors.” While his focus on extremism is essential, this characterization is misleading and overlooks the broader networks that facilitate violent extremism. By concentrating solely on individuals or small groups, we risk ignoring the collective, organized nature of extremist movements that present long-term threats to public safety.
While far-right extremists may execute attacks alone or with a small group, they are almost always connected to larger networks and ideologies. Historical cases illustrate this point. Take Timothy McVeigh, often branded as the archetypal lone wolf responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. In reality, McVeigh was part of a broader network of far-right extremists. Similarly, Payton Gendron, who killed ten Black individuals in a 2022 Buffalo grocery store shooting, and Patrick Crusius, who targeted Latino shoppers in a 2019 Walmart attack, were both connected to extremist movements, despite being labeled as lone wolves by the media.
Both Gendron and Crusius were active on far-right extremist social media platforms, sharing manifestos that detailed their radicalization and motivations rooted in the fear of white demographic decline—a theme echoed in the writings of notorious white supremacists.
The lone wolf narrative also perpetuates the notion that extremists are socially deviant individuals, detached from society. Following Gendron's massacre, New York Attorney General Letitia James labeled him a “sick, demented individual.” In contrast, most far-right extremists are ordinary citizens—students, professionals, and community members—who justify their extremist beliefs. Vance Boelter, for instance, is a father of five with a background in various industries, characterized as religious and conservative. His reported opposition to abortion and criticism of LGBTQ+ individuals during church sermons highlight the ideological motivations that drive many like him.
The persistence of the lone wolf metaphor can be traced back to white supremacist Louis Beam, who, in 1983, advocated for "Leaderless Resistance," encouraging far-right extremists to act individually or in small, untraceable groups. This concept gained traction within both extremist circles and law enforcement, culminating in initiatives like the FBI's “Operation Lone Wolf” in 1998. The 9/11 terrorist attacks shifted the focus to Islamic militant lone wolves, further entrenching this narrative in public consciousness.
The convenience of the lone wolf myth captivates audiences and allows law enforcement to depoliticize their efforts, diverting attention from systemic issues prevalent in movements like white nationalism. As the January 6 insurrection illustrated, understanding how far-right extremists organize and network—often through social media—is vital for developing effective long-term strategies to prevent violent attacks like that of Vance Boelter.
