Photo Goes Viral After Suspected Minnesota Lawmaker Assassin Captured
Vance Boelter, the person suspected of shooting two Minnesota Democratic state senators and murdering one of them and her spouse, was apprehended on Sunday, according to various law enforcement officials.
Sibley County apprehended Boelter, 57, after a two-day manhunt. He reportedly assassinated Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, early Saturday morning at their Brooklyn Park home in Minneapolis before allegedly killing State Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, in their neighboring Champlin home in a connected incident.
The Sibley County Sheriff’s Office informed Fox News that Boelter “verbally” identified himself to officers looking for him in the region on Sunday evening.
“The face of evil. After relentless and determined police work, the killer is now in custody,” the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. “Thanks to the dedication of multiple agencies working together along with support from the community, justice is one step closer.”
Brooklyn Park Police Department Chief Mark Bruley, speaking at a news conference alongside other law enforcement authorities following Boelter’s arrest, stated that the search encompassed more than 20 SWAT units. He referred to it as “the largest manhunt in the state’s history.”
Officers from multiple agencies were involved in the manhunt, which included both foot patrols and helicopter deployments.
“The suspect crawled to law enforcement teams and was placed under arrest at that point in time,” said Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Geiger of the Minnesota State Patrol.
There was no indication that Boelter was working with anyone else, authorities said.
According to officials, Boelter had signs in his truck that proclaimed “No Kings.”
On Saturday afternoon, cities throughout the United States held “No Kings” protests to demonstrate their opposition to the Trump administration’s ICE raids.
BREAKING🚨: Vance Boelter Captured and arrested!!! pic.twitter.com/Nc42tXRIz3
— I Came, I Saw, They died 🇺🇸📢🇺🇸 (@4ortunefame) June 16, 2025
The Hennepin County District Court filed a criminal complaint charging Boelter with four felony counts of second-degree murder with intent (not premeditation).
The complaint accuses Boelter with two counts of second-degree murder for the murders of Victims 1 and 2 (Melissa and Mark Hortman) and two counts of attempted second-degree murder for the gunshots of Victims 3 and 4 (John and Yvette Hoffman).
All counts are felonies, with a potential punishment of 40 years in jail and a statutory minimum of three years for the use of a firearm.
During a news conference, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said, “the heroic actions by the Hoffman family and their daughter Hope saved countless lives. The latest news is Senator Hoffman came out of his final surgery, and is moving towards that, towards recovery.”
The lawsuit states that Boelter used a firearm with the intent to murder in attacks on four people, two of whom were elected officials.
According to police papers, Champlin Police responded to a 911 call at about 2:05 a.m., reporting that a masked suspect had shot two victims at a property. Officers discovered Victims 3 and 4, who had been shot but survived.
Surveillance footage showed a guy dressed in police-style tactical gear, subsequently identified as Boelter, approaching the property in a Ford SUV outfitted with police lights. According to officials, the film shows Boelter introducing himself as a police officer before entering the home and killing the victims.
According to records, Brooklyn Park Police were summoned to another member’s residence as a precaution around 90 minutes after learning that a legislator had been engaged in the previous incident.
Officers arrived about 3:35 a.m. and observed Boelter shoot Victim 2 through the open front door. Officers discovered Victims 1 and 2 dead from gunshot wounds.
Authorities discovered a worrisome arsenal in Boelter’s hands, according to records. Inside his registered car, authorities discovered three AK-47 assault weapons, a 9mm pistol, and a list of additional public officials’ names and addresses.
A ballistic jacket, a mask, and a police-style badge were also found nearby.
Authorities have said the suspect targeted lawmakers in a planned attack, showing up at their homes wearing a police-like uniform and a mask.
