SUSPECTED KILLER OF MINNESOTA LAWMAKER AND HUSBAND TO FACE COURT AFTER TWO-DAY MANHUNT
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The man suspected of fatally shooting Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, is set to appear in court Monday after being captured following a two-day statewide manhunt.
Vance Boelter, 57, allegedly disguised himself as a police officer before killing the Democratic lawmaker and her spouse at their home early Saturday. Authorities described the search for Boelter as the largest manhunt in Minnesota’s history, involving 20 SWAT teams and multiple law enforcement agencies.
Boelter was apprehended without incident in Sibley County, a rural area southwest of the Minneapolis suburbs where the killings took place. His arrest was aided by a tip from a local resident whose security camera captured an image resembling the suspect. Drones and SWAT officers scouring farmland and ditches ultimately located and confined him.
In addition to the double homicide, Boelter is accused of shooting Minnesota state Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette in a separate attack. Both sustained serious injuries but are recovering, with Senator Hoffman recently completing a final surgery, according to Governor Tim Walz.
Authorities charged Boelter with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, crimes that each carry a potential 40-year sentence. He is being held in Hennepin County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
A notebook found in a vehicle abandoned at the Hortmans’ home contained names of other lawmakers and potential targets. While not a traditional manifesto, investigators said it suggested political motives, particularly related to abortion rights.
Melissa Hortman, who served as Speaker of the Minnesota House from 2019 to January 2025, was a prominent advocate for reproductive rights. The attack has sparked renewed concerns over political violence in a deeply polarized United States.
“This cannot be the norm,” Governor Walz said. “It cannot be the way we deal with political differences.”
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who represents Minnesota, called the incident “politically motivated” and expressed worry for the safety of public officials across the nation.
The violence comes amid broader political unrest, as former President Donald Trump begins a second term marked by deep national divisions. Trump himself survived an assassination attempt last year, and other political figures have also faced violent threats or attacks in recent years.
President Trump has condemned the killings but stirred controversy when asked whether he would call Governor Walz. “I think he’s a terrible governor… but I may call him,” Trump told ABC News on Sunday.
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