A 57-year-old man has been apprehended in Minnesota on suspicion of murdering a Democratic state lawmaker and her spouse. The arrest of Vance Luther Boelter on Sunday night followed a massive two-day manhunt prompted by the tragic deaths of Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota Democrat, and her husband, Mark. State Governor Tim Walz characterized the incident as a “politically motivated assassination.” At the time of his capture in a rural area west of Minneapolis, Boelter was armed but surrendered to law enforcement without incident.
Boelter is also accused of shooting and injuring Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette; both are now recovering in the hospital. Yvette Hoffman expressed gratitude on Sunday, stating that they feel “incredibly lucky to be alive.” The suspect was located after investigators traced a vehicle he allegedly used in Sibley County, approximately 50 miles from the murder location in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
The operation to apprehend Boelter involved air and SWAT teams, marking it as the largest manhunt in Minnesota’s history. Fortunately, no officers were harmed during the apprehension, and officials later confirmed they were not seeking any other suspects.