A man aged 57 has been taken into custody in Minnesota under suspicion of fatally shooting a Democratic state legislator and her spouse.
The suspect was captured on Sunday evening, ending an intensive two-day search triggered by the killings of Melissa Hortman, a Democratic figure from Minnesota, and her husband, Mark. The state’s governor, Tim Walz, referred to the incident as a “politically motivated assassination”.
Authorities confirmed that Vance Luther Boelter, who was armed during his apprehension in a rural area west of Minneapolis, surrendered without resistance when confronted.
He is also believed to have opened fire on Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, both of whom survived the ordeal and are conscious in the hospital.
Mrs Hoffman remarked on Sunday that she and her husband felt “incredibly lucky to be alive” after suffering a combined total of 17 bullet wounds.
Expressing their grief, she said they were “gutted and devastated” by the tragic loss of the Hortmans, adding: “We have no words. There is never a place for this kind of political hate.”
Charges against Boelter include two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder. He is expected to appear in court in Minneapolis at 13:30 local time (14:30 EDT; 18:30 GMT) on Monday.
The accused once held a political appointment and was formerly a part of the same state workforce development board as John Hoffman, though it remains uncertain whether they had any personal connection.
Investigators have yet to reveal any motive for the killings, but State Senator Amy Klobuchar, alongside Governor Walz, has implied that political factors may have driven the attack.
On Sunday, officials announced that Boelter was captured after a vehicle he reportedly used was located in Sibley County, approximately 50 miles (80km) from where the murders took place in Brooklyn Park.
Law enforcement deployed helicopters and tactical units to secure the arrest, in what has been described as the most extensive manhunt in the state’s recent memory.
No injuries to law enforcement personnel occurred during the operation. Investigators confirmed they are not pursuing additional suspects. Earlier, Boelter’s wife was detained during a traffic stop but released after assisting authorities with their inquiries.
During a Sunday evening press briefing with other local officials, Governor Walz condemned the act as an “unspeakable act” that had “altered the state of Minnesota”.
“This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences,” Walz stated.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey applauded the law enforcement teams for their “skill and bravery” in securing the suspect, emphasizing that “Political violence is abhorrent.”
Boelter is accused of pretending to be a police officer to carry out the shootings on Saturday, subsequently exchanging gunfire with officers before escaping the suburban area.
Melissa Hortman had dedicated 20 years to serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives, where she held the position of speaker from 2019 until 2025.
Beyond political circles, Boelter has worked as a security consultant and religious missionary with experience in Africa and the Middle East, as reflected in his online profile. Photos on social media show him preaching in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a pastor.
Investigators reportedly uncovered a list labeled “targets” inside the vehicle believed to have been used during the shootings.
Drew Evans, the head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, informed reporters that the notebook discovered in the car was not a “manifesto” because it lacked “a treatise on all kinds of ideology and writings”.
Reports indicate that the list included Governor Walz, congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison.
During the press conference, Evans declined to disclose specific names but said authorities in neighboring states such as Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, and Iowa had been alerted to notify individuals mentioned on the list.
Mrs Hoffman provided an update on her husband’s recovery on Sunday. “John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,” she wrote.
The shooting spree reportedly began when the Hoffmans were attacked at their residence in Champlin around 2:00 AM local time on Saturday.
A social media post, supposedly from Mrs Hoffman’s nephew, described how she shielded her daughter during the assault, “using her body as a shield to save her life”.
Shortly after the Champlin incident, the Hortmans were killed at their home in Brooklyn Park, approximately eight miles away.
Neighbors expressed disbelief at the violence. Taha Abuisnaineh, who lives opposite the Hortmans, said he and his wife had known the family for over two decades.
“They were very nice neighbours in a very quiet neighbourhood,” he shared. “You don’t see police activity in this neighbourhood. We are very shocked.”
Another local resident recounted receiving an annual Christmas card from the Hortmans.
“What a big loss for Minnesota,” she said.
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