The individual suspected of killing a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband has been apprehended after the FBI disseminated alarming doorbell camera footage.
Legislators Melissa Hortman, aged 55, and John Hoffman, aged 60, along with their spouses, were attacked in their homes on Saturday, June 14.
The attack resulted in the deaths of Minnesota Rep. Hortman and her husband Mark. Meanwhile, Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette are hospitalized but in stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery.
According to Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, police were first alerted to the shooting at Hoffman’s residence at around 2:00 am on Saturday.
Authorities then visited Hortman’s home, where they encountered the suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who began firing at them immediately.
“The individual was able to escape during that exchange of gunfire,” Evans stated. Boelter is reported to have sent a text to his roommate indicating he ‘may be dead shortly’.
During the investigation, a manifesto was discovered, listing several other individuals on his purported hit list.
Police have noted that all the individuals on the list were activists for abortion rights.
A manhunt for the alleged shooter began on Saturday, culminating in Boelter’s capture on Sunday, June 15, in a wooded area in Sibley County, located southwest of Minneapolis.
His capture occurred without incident after police received information on his location earlier on Sunday.
“After a two-day manhunt and two sleepless nights, law enforcement have apprehended Vance Boelter,” stated Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in a press briefing.
The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office described the arrest on Facebook, stating: “The face of evil. After relentless and determined police work, the killer is now in custody. Thanks to the dedication of multiple agencies working together along with support from the community, justice is one step closer.”
Boelter reportedly ‘crawled’ to the arresting officers before being taken into custody and now faces charges of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.
The suspect masqueraded as a police officer, wearing a uniform while allegedly carrying out the attack over the weekend.
Bob Jacobson, Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner, remarked: “Boelter exploited the trust our uniforms are meant to represent; that betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility.”
Hortman held a prominent position as the top House Democratic leader in the state legislature and was a former house speaker, having first been elected in 2004.
Hoffman, also a Democrat, was first elected in 2012 and is the proprietor of Hoffman Strategic Advisors, a consulting firm.