Suspect Vance Boelter Caught and Arrested in Minnesota Lawmaker Shootings: Report

Vance Boelter has been arrested in the shooting deaths of Democratic Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, according to the Associated Press.

The suspect, 57 — who also allegedly shot Democratic Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, both of whom survived — was arrested Sunday night after a nearly two-day manhunt, per two law enforcement officials who spoke to the AP. He allegedly impersonated a law enforcement officer during the shootings, going to the lawmakers’ homes in an act that was characterized as political violence by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

The shootings took place early on the morning of Saturday, June 14. David Carlson, Boelter’s roommate, told reporters that Boelter sent him, as well as another individual, text messages on Saturday morning that began, “I love you guys. I’ve made some choices, and you guys don’t know anything about this, but I’m going to be gone for a while. I may be dead shortly.”

The texts, per Carlson, continued, “So I just want to let you know that I love you guys both, and wish it hadn’t gone this way. I don’t want to say anything more and implicate you in any way, because you guys don’t know anything about this. But I love you guys, and I’m sorry for all the trouble this has caused.”

During a June 14 press conference, police revealed that they had discovered a “manifesto” featuring a “list of names” inside a vehicle that they believe the suspect had been driving. They also stated that the vehicle “looked exactly like an SUV squad car,” equipped with emergency lights that made it look “exactly like a police vehicle.”

“I will tell you, when we did a search of the vehicle, there was a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials,” Brooklyn Park Police Department Chief Mark Bruley said during the press conference. “We immediately made alerts to the state, who took action. Alerting them and providing security where necessary.”

Hortman, 55, the former Democratic Speaker of the House, and her husband, Mark, were killed in the attack in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 14, Gov. Tim Walz said at the same press conference.

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Hoffman, 60, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, both survived the shooting and are now receiving care, according to the governor.

“We’re here today because an unspeakable tragedy has unfolded today in Minnesota,” Walz, 61, began. “My good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark, were shot and killed earlier this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination.” 

Hoffman and his wife Yvette survived the overnight shooting, and as of mid-morning on June 14, are “out of surgery” and “receiving care,” Walz said.

“We are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt,” the governor continued, adding that “this was an act of targeted political violence.”

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Hoffman and his wife were shot first at their Champlin home, and police were alerted to the initial attack at around 2 a.m. local time, Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said in the June 14 press conference.

Police officers then “proactively” checked on Hortman at her Brooklyn Park home, at which time they encountered the suspect, who “immediately” fired at them, according to Evans.

“They exchanged gunfire, and then the individual was able to escape during that exchange of gunfire at the residence,” Evans said.

Brooklyn Park issued a shelter-in-place order while searching for the suspect, who was representing himself as law enforcement, KARE 11 reported.

Residents of the area were encouraged to report “anything suspicious, especially involving individuals impersonating law enforcement,” according to Bob Jacobson, commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.