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MINNEAPOLIS – Vance Boelter, the suspect accused of shooting two Minnesota state lawmakers, killing one and her husband, was captured on Sunday, multiple law enforcement sources confirmed to Fox News.
Boelter, 57, was captured in Sibley County after a two-day manhunt. He allegedly killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, early Saturday morning at their Brooklyn Park home in Minneapolis. He also allegedly shot State Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, in their nearby Champlin home in a related attack.
The Sibley County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News that Boelter “verbally” identified himself to authorities searching for him in the area 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.”
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Vance Luther Boelter was arrested on Sunday evening. (Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)
Speaking at a press conference alongside other law enforcement officers after Boelter’s arrest, Brooklyn Park Police Department Chief Mark Bruley said there were more than 20 different SWAT teams involved in the search. He described it as “the largest manhunt in the state’s history.”
The manhunt included officers from multiple agencies on foot as well as the use of a helicopter.
There’s no question that this is the largest manhunt in the state’s history.
“The suspect crawled to law enforcement teams and was placed under arrest at that point in time,” Lieutenant Colonel Minnesota State Patrol Jeremy Geiger said.
There was no indication that Boelter was working with anyone else, authorities said.
Law enforcement officials dress up in protective gear to investigative an attack on the Pearl Street Mall, Sunday in Boulder, Colo. (AP)
The Hennepin County District Court issued a criminal complaint charging Boelter with four felony counts of second-degree murder with intent (not premeditated).
A mugshot of Minnesota lawmaker shooting suspect Vance Boelter in custody at Hennepin County Jail. (Hennepin County Jail)
The complaint charges Boelter with two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Victims 1 and 2 — identified as Melissa and Mark Hortman — and two counts of attempted second-degree murder for the shootings of Victims 3 and 4 — identified as John Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman. All charges are felonies, and each carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of three years due to the use of a firearm.
FBI agents strategizing in Green Isle, Minnesota. (Peter D’Abrosca for Fox News Digital)
Gov. Tim Walz said “the heroic actions by the Hoffman family and their daughter Hope saved countless lives” during a Sunday press conference.
“The latest news is Senator Hoffman came out of his final surgery, and is moving towards that, towards recovery,” Walz said at Sunday night’s press conference.
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The complaint alleges that Boelter acted with intent to kill, using a firearm, in attacks against four individuals, including two who were elected officials.
Police documents say that at approximately 2:05 a.m., Champlin Police responded to a 911 call reporting a masked individual had shot two people at a residence. Officers discovered Victims 3 and 4, both of whom had been shot but survived.
Law enforcement presence in Green Isle, Minnesota. (Peter D’Abrosca for Fox News Digital)
Surveillance footage captured a man dressed in police-style tactical gear, later identified as Boelter, approaching the home in a Ford SUV equipped with police-style lights. The footage, authorities allege, showed Boelter announcing himself as a police officer before entering the residence and shooting the victims.
Roughly 90 minutes later, Brooklyn Park Police, having learned that a legislator was involved in the earlier shooting, were dispatched to another legislator’s home as a precaution, documents say.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Vance L. Boelter, the suspect in Saturday’s targeted shootings of Minnesota lawmakers and their families in Champlin and Brooklyn Park. (FBI)
Upon arrival around 3:35 a.m., officers witnessed Boelter shoot Victim 2 through the open front door. Officers discovered both Victims 1 and 2 deceased from gunshot wounds.
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Authorities uncovered a disturbing arsenal in Boelter’s possession, documents said. Inside his vehicle, registered to him, police found three AK-47 assault rifles, a 9mm handgun, and a list of names and addresses of other public officials.
Boelter, 57, is accused of killing Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, early Saturday morning at their Brooklyn Park home in Minneapolis. He is also accused of shooting State Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, in their nearby Champlin home. (AP Images)
Additional evidence, including a ballistic vest, a mask, and a police-style badge, was recovered nearby.
His bail was set at $5 million.
“There is information that led us to do the searches…in Sibley County,” Bureau of Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said, adding later that Boelter’s vehicle and a hat that appeared to belong to the suspect were located in that area near his home.
Windows are seen broken at the home of DFL State Rep. Melissa Hortman on June 15, 2025 in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were shot and killed yesterday morning. DFL State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and hospitalized in a separate incident. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said during a press conference that the shooting “appears to be a politically motivated assassination.” (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Authorities have said the suspect targeted lawmakers in a planned attack, showing up at their homes wearing a police-like uniform and a mask.
“Boulter exploited the trust. Our uniforms are meant to represent,” Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bob Jacobson said during the Sunday evening press conference. “That betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility. We want to thank community members across the state for their support, for their tips and their information.”
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Democratic Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar shared a message from Hoffman’s wife on Sunday, saying the state senator was shot nine times and she eight.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., on Sunday evening shared a text message from Senator Hoffman’s wife, Yvette, saying Hoffman was shot nine times and she eight. (Sen. Amy Klobuchar)
“John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,” Yvette wrote. “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. There is never a place for this kind of political hate.”
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Officials said Boelter had signs in his vehicle that read “No Kings.” Cities across the United States had “No Kings” protests — expressing disapproval of the Trump administration’s ICE raids — scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Fox News’ Peter D’Abrosca and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.