A 57-year-old man, Vance Luther Boelter, has been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of Democratic state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. The arrest came after a massive two-day manhunt that gripped the state of Minnesota. Boelter is also suspected of shooting and wounding Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who were hit by 17 bullets between them.
According to authorities, Boelter was armed at the time of his arrest in a rural area west of Minneapolis but surrendered peacefully when challenged. Governor Tim Walz described the attack as a “politically motivated assassination” 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 said.
In a statement, Yvette Hoffman expressed her gratitude for being alive, saying, “We have no words… There is never a place for this kind of political hate.” Her husband, John Hoffman, is currently undergoing multiple surgeries and is getting closer to recovering. The Hoffman family has been shaken by the tragic event, with Yvette adding that they were “gutted and devastated” by the Hortmans’ deaths.
The investigation led authorities to Boelter’s location, where he was taken into custody without incident. A list of “targets” was reportedly found in the vehicle Boelter used, which included Governor Walz, congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and state Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, among others. Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, emphasized that the notebook found in the car was not a manifesto but rather a list of targets.
Boelter faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder. He is due to appear in court in Minneapolis at 13:30 local time on Monday. Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey praised the “skill and bravery” of law enforcement agencies following the suspect’s arrest, saying, “Political violence is abhorrent.”
The community is still reeling from the tragic event, with locals expressing shock and sadness. Taha Abuisnaineh, a neighbor of the Hortmans, described them as “very nice neighbours in a very quiet neighbourhood.” The incident has raised concerns about political violence and the safety of public officials.