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The suspect in the fatal shootings of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and the wounding of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife has been arrested, bringing a tense and emotional two-day manhunt to a close, law enforcement officials confirmed Sunday.
Vance Boelter, 57, was taken into custody in Minnesota Sunday evening, according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. He had been the subject of an intense multi-agency manhunt after allegedly posing as a police officer and targeting Democratic lawmakers in the northern Minneapolis suburbs.
The attacks, which took place early Saturday, left Hortman, 55, and her husband, Mark, dead at their home in Brooklyn Park. Meanwhile, Hoffman, 60, and his wife, Yvette, were both critically wounded in their Champlin home about nine miles away.
On Sunday evening, Senator Amy Klobuchar shared a statement from Yvette Hoffman:
“John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods. He took 9 bullet hits. I took 8 and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark.”
Boelter’s Capture and Background
Boelter, a former state political appointee, was reportedly wearing a tan cowboy hat and a police-style uniform when seen leaving Hortman’s home in a fake police vehicle. Officers confronted him; he fired, fled, and launched a search that mobilized more than 100 officers, including SWAT teams and federal agents.
A $50,000 FBI reward was offered for information leading to his arrest. His car was found abandoned near Green Isle, about 50 miles southwest of Minneapolis, where Boelter lived with his wife and five children. Authorities recovered evidence and a cowboy hat believed to be his near the scene.
Around 6 a.m. Saturday, Boelter sent disturbing text messages to friends, apologizing and hinting at a final act.
“I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly… I wish it hadn’t gone this way,” one message read.
No Clear Motive, But Alarming Evidence Found
Investigators have yet to publicly confirm a motive. However, authorities said Boelter left behind a notebook with a list of approximately 70 names, including state and federal lawmakers, abortion rights advocates, and health care professionals. Law enforcement is treating the list as a potential threat inventory.
Though initially described as a “manifesto,” officials later said it was more a collection of disjointed writings than an ideological statement. Some lawmakers named in the documents had been vocal defenders of abortion rights, including Hortman.
Boelter previously served on a state workforce development board alongside Senator Hoffman. It is unclear what relationship, if any, they maintained.
Political Climate and Mourning
The violent attacks come amid growing concerns nationwide about the safety of elected officials, particularly in the wake of increasingly heated political rhetoric and rising threats.
Flowers, flags, and hand-written tributes covered the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol on Sunday. Notes addressed to Hortman included messages like: “You were our leader through the hardest of times. Rest in Power.”
Governor Tim Walz called Hortman “the most consequential Speaker in state history.” As Speaker, she played a central role in passing laws to protect abortion access and defend reproductive rights in Minnesota. She most recently held the title Speaker Emerita after helping negotiate a power-sharing agreement with Republicans.
The Hoffmans’ daughter and the Hortmans’ two adult children have not yet made public statements.
Security Tightened Across the State
In response to the attacks, state leaders increased security alerts for lawmakers, prompting some public event cancellations, including anti-Trump “No Kings” protests. Authorities confirmed that “No Kings” flyers were found in Boelter’s car, but it remains unclear if the protests were directly connected to the attacks.
Lawmakers and community members alike are grappling with the shock, tragedy, and implications of this targeted political violence.
“This wasn’t just an attack on two families,” said Pam Stein, who brought flowers to the Capitol. “It was an attack on democracy.”
Boelter remains in custody, and authorities say formal charges are pending. The investigation is ongoing.
