A man suspected of killing Minnesota Democratic state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark has been arrested after a two-day manhunt west of Minneapolis.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, surrendered peacefully to police in a rural wooded area, reportedly crawling toward officers before his arrest. Boelter faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder after allegedly shooting and killing the Hortmans and wounding Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Both survivors remain hospitalized.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described the attack as a “politically motivated assassination,” emphasizing the severity of the incident. Senator Amy Klobuchar and other officials have also suggested political motives behind the violence.
Boelter, a former political appointee and security contractor with missionary experience abroad, was apprehended after police located a car he had used approximately 50 miles from the scene. The arrest involved air and SWAT units in what local authorities described as Minnesota’s largest manhunt in history. No officers were harmed during the operation, and authorities confirmed no additional suspects are being sought.
The suspect is accused of impersonating a police officer during the attacks on Saturday, which began at the Hoffmans’ home in Champlin in the early hours before moving to the Hortmans’ residence in Brooklyn Park. Melissa Hortman had served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for two decades, including as speaker from 2019 to 2025.
Officials disclosed that investigators found a notebook in Boelter’s vehicle containing a list of alleged targets. While authorities have not publicly confirmed specific names, reports suggest it included prominent political figures such as Governor Walz and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Neighboring states have been notified due to potential threats against officials named in the list.
The Hoffmans have expressed gratitude for surviving the attack. Yvette Hoffman shared that both she and her husband, who was hit by 17 bullets, feel “incredibly lucky to be alive” but remain “gutted and devastated” over the Hortmans’ deaths.
Local residents described the incident as shocking and unprecedented in their quiet neighborhood. Longtime neighbor Taha Abuisnaineh called the Hortmans “very nice neighbors,” while another resident lamented the profound loss for the community.
Governor Walz condemned the violence as an “unspeakable act” that has “altered the state of Minnesota,” urging an end to political violence and divisiveness. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey praised law enforcement’s “skill and bravery” in capturing the suspect.
Vance Luther Boelter is due to appear in court in Minneapolis on Monday afternoon.
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