By Euronews with AP
Published on •Updated
The man accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses was apprehended Sunday night and has been charged with two counts of murder, Governor Tim Walz said.
Vance Boelter is suspected of killing Democratic State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their home early Saturday. He is also suspected of shooting and injuring Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their residence.
“One man’s unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota,” Governor Walz said at a news conference.
Boelter was arrested after an extensive manhunt on Sunday in a rural area of Sibley County, southwest of Minneapolis. He was armed and disguised in a police uniform when taken into custody, according to police.
He faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.
Earlier on Sunday, authorities received a report of a person in the woods and launched a search using a helicopter and officers on foot. Boelter surrendered and crawled out of the woods to officers before being handcuffed and taken into custody.
Boelter allegedly first attacked the Hoffmans at their home early Saturday. Their daughter called 911 just after 2:00 am local time, reporting that a masked individual had come to the door and shot her parents.
Authorities say they arrived just in time to witness Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the Hortmans’ home. Officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect before he fled, sparking a manhunt.
Melissa Hortman was found dead inside the house.
Police have not provided a motive for Boelter’s actions. However, two law enforcement officials told the Associated Press that a list of approximately 70 names was recovered from a fake police vehicle left at the scene. The writings included names of prominent state and federal lawmakers, community leaders, abortion rights advocates, and references to healthcare facilities, the officials said.
Boelter is a former political appointee who previously served on the same state workforce development board as Senator Hoffman, according to records. It is unclear whether the two had any personal relationship.
On Sunday evening, US Senator Amy Klobuchar shared a statement from Yvette Hoffman expressing gratitude for the public’s support.
“John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,” Yvette Hoffman said in a text shared by Klobuchar on social media. “He took nine bullet hits. I took eight, and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark.”