Police capture suspect in shootings of 2 Minnesota lawmakers

HOUSTON, United States

Police in the US state of Minnesota on Sunday captured the suspect accused of shooting two state lawmakers and their spouses, according to multiple media outlets.

Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested by law enforcement after a nearly two-day nationwide manhunt that began after the deadly shootings early Saturday morning. He is accused of murdering former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as shooting and injuring Democratic Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

"The multi-agency task force including MN State Patrol arrested Boelter," reporter Tom Hauser from KSTP-TV posted on X. "He’s been captured alive near Green Isle, where a manhunt has been focused all day."

According to investigators, Boelter posed as a police officer when he shot and killed Hortman and her husband at their Brooklyn Park home. He then traveled to Champlin 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) away and shot Hoffman and his wife at the couple's house.

"John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods," Hoffman's wife, Yvette," wrote in a text posted on X by US Senator Amy Klobuchar. "He took 9 bullet hits. I took 8 and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive."

"We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark," she continued. "We have no words. There is never a place for this kind of hate."

Authorities said they have interviewed Boelter's wife and other family members in connection with the deadly shootings and none of them were in custody. They added that all family members have been cooperative with the investigation.

Police have not yet released a motive in the fatal shootings, but investigators said a list of about 70 names was found in writings taken from the fake police vehicle that Boelter left at the scene. Authorities said the list of names included prominent state and federal lawmakers and community leaders, and the literature found included information about abortion rights advocates and health care facilities.

Boelter is a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, records show.

According to investigators, Boelter texted friends to apologize for his actions after the shooting, though he did not mention what he had done.