The suspect in the tragic shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers has been captured after a two-day manhunt. Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested on Sunday. Law enforcement officials reported that he was taken into custody without incident.
Boelter is accused of a politically motivated attack that occurred early Saturday morning. He allegedly shot State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who both lost their lives. State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also injured in the attack.
Authorities believe this shooting was driven by political motives, as Boelter had previously served on the same workforce development board as Senator Hoffman. He is facing serious charges, including two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.
The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office expressed relief at Boelter’s capture, describing him as “the face of evil” in a social media post. They credited the teamwork of multiple agencies and community support for bringing him into custody.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz praised law enforcement for their swift action and paid tribute to the victims. He described Hortman as a key figure in the community and commended Hoffman and his wife for their brave actions during the attack, which he said helped save lives.
In light of this incident, Governor Walz called for an end to political violence in the United States, emphasizing that such acts cannot become the norm. He urged a return to the core values of the nation.
This shooting is part of a troubling trend of political violence in the U.S. Recent incidents have raised concerns about safety among public officials. As the community processes this tragedy, many are left wondering how to prevent such violence in the future.