Minnesota Lawmaker Shooting Suspect Captured After Largest Manhunt in State History

In a stunning turn of events that has shaken Minnesota’s political and law enforcement community, 57-year-old Vance Boelter — the man accused of launching a deadly, targeted assault on two Minnesota state lawmakers and their families — has been apprehended in Sibley County following a massive two-day manhunt that authorities have now declared the largest in the state’s history.

Boelter, who is now charged with four counts of second-degree murder and attempted murder, allegedly executed the attacks wearing police-style tactical gear and carrying high-powered weapons, including AK-47 rifles, a 9mm handgun, and a detailed hit list of public officials.

The terrifying sequence began early Saturday morning in Minneapolis, where Boelter is accused of breaking into the home of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and fatally shooting both her and her husband, Mark Hortman. Just over an hour earlier, he had allegedly shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette at their Champlin home. Both survived, albeit with severe injuries.

In a post shared by Senator Hoffman’s wife, it was revealed that John was hit nine times, and she herself sustained eight gunshot wounds. Both remain hospitalized but are reportedly on a path to recovery, according to officials and family members.

At a Sunday press conference, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley confirmed the scope of the operation to find Boelter, stating that over 20 different SWAT teams were mobilized from across the state. "This is without question the largest manhunt in Minnesota history," Bruley said, emphasizing the speed, scale, and intensity of the inter-agency cooperation involved in Boelter’s capture. Officers were deployed on foot, with helicopter support scanning large swaths of rural terrain.

It was in this high-alert environment that Boelter was finally discovered. According to Minnesota State Patrol Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Geiger, the suspect crawled toward law enforcement officers and was arrested without incident.

Boelter’s arrest came after he verbally identified himself to officers who had closed in on his presumed hiding location in Sibley County. His vehicle and a piece of clothing believed to be his hat were also recovered nearby, lending further evidence to his identity.

Additional discoveries made during the investigation paint a harrowing picture of premeditation and political animus. Law enforcement revealed that inside Boelter’s vehicle, they found three AK-47 rifles, a handgun, tactical gear, a ballistic vest, a mask, and even a fake badge mimicking those used by police. The most chilling discovery, however, may be the list of names and home addresses of other public officials, indicating that more attacks could have followed if Boelter had not been stopped.

Boelter is being charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman and two counts of attempted second-degree murder for the shooting of John and Yvette Hoffman. All counts are felonies, each carrying a potential 40-year prison sentence, with a mandatory minimum of three years due to the use of a firearm. His bail has been set at $5 million.

In a criminal complaint released by Hennepin County District Court, prosecutors allege that Boelter acted with deliberate intent. Surveillance footage from the early Saturday attacks shows a man, identified as Boelter, arriving at the Hoffman residence in a Ford SUV outfitted with police-style lights.

Dressed in tactical clothing, he announced himself as law enforcement before forcing his way into the home and opening fire. Approximately 90 minutes later, officers, already on high alert after learning that a legislator had been targeted, arrived at the Hortman residence in Brooklyn Park.

There, they witnessed Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open front door. By the time they entered, both Melissa and Mark were dead.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, addressing the public at a press conference Sunday night, praised the heroism of the Hoffman family, especially their daughter Hope, whose quick thinking and bravery are credited with preventing further loss of life. “The heroic actions by the Hoffman family and their daughter Hope saved countless lives,” said the Governor. “Senator Hoffman has emerged from his final surgery and is now on the road to recovery.”

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar also addressed the tragedy, sharing a message from Yvette Hoffman that detailed the brutal toll of the attack. "John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods," Yvette wrote. "We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark. There is never a place for this kind of political hate."

That political motive is now a central focus of the investigation. According to multiple law enforcement officials, Boelter was not acting under the influence of drugs or alcohol, nor was there evidence of external collaborators.

But in his vehicle, police found disturbing paraphernalia: signs reading “No Kings,” which mirrors the slogan of an ongoing protest movement criticizing government overreach and authoritarianism. Notably, “No Kings” demonstrations were planned across multiple cities that same weekend in opposition to federal immigration raids ordered by the Trump administration.

It remains unclear whether Boelter was a direct participant or had simply appropriated the movement’s rhetoric to justify his violent actions.

Minnesota Department of Public Safety official Bob Jacobson spoke to the emotional toll that Boelter’s disguise had on the law enforcement community. “Boulter exploited the trust our uniforms are meant to represent,” Jacobson said. “That betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility. We want to thank community members across the state for their support, their tips, and their information.”

Political analysts say the attack marks a dangerous new era of domestic political violence, where elected officials and their families are now direct targets. With both Democrats and Republicans decrying the assault, the event has sparked urgent discussions in the Minnesota legislature about increased security for public officials, as well as renewed investment in identifying individuals exhibiting extremist ideologies before they turn violent.

Though the motive is still being investigated, early signs point to Boelter harboring intense anti-government and possibly anti-Democrat sentiments. The planning involved in the shootings — from acquiring weapons and tactical gear to compiling a hit list — suggests a level of radicalization that some fear could inspire copycat incidents.

With political tensions high and mistrust in institutions growing across parts of the country, law enforcement agencies are urging vigilance and warning of a rising threat posed by lone-wolf actors radicalized through online communities and conspiratorial belief systems.

In the days ahead, authorities will continue combing through Boelter’s digital footprint, financial records, and communications to determine if he had any accomplices or received help of any kind. Meanwhile, grief-stricken communities across Minnesota mourn the loss of Melissa and Mark Hortman, both remembered as devoted public servants.

The state legislature has suspended all regular activity this week to honor their memory, and bipartisan calls for a memorial service are already underway.

Boelter remains in custody and is expected to appear in court for his preliminary hearing later this week. With the charges he faces and the overwhelming evidence gathered, prosecutors are confident in securing a conviction, though they caution that the legal process must still unfold.

As Minnesota grapples with the shock of political violence hitting so close to home, one thing is clear: the scars left by this event — both personal and political — will not soon fade. But the capture of Boelter marks a significant step toward justice, as the state begins the long process of healing and rebuilding trust in the safety of its public officials.