A man has been arrested for the killing of a Democratic state lawmaker, Melissa Hortman, and her husband in Minnesota. The police searched for him for two days before he gave up peacefully in a wooded area near Minneapolis.
The man, Vance Luther Boelter, 57 years old, is also accused of shooting State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Both Hoffmans were hurt badly but are now in the hospital. Yvette said they feel very lucky to be alive after being hit by 17 bullets together. She also said they are very sad about the deaths of the Hortmans and that there is no place for violence in politics.
Boelter faces charges of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder. He will appear in court on Monday.
Boelter used to work in politics and was on the same state board as John Hoffman, but it is not clear if they knew each other well. Police have not said why Boelter attacked them, but Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz and Senator Amy Klobuchar think it was because of politics.
Police found a car linked to Boelter about 50 miles from where the shootings happened. The manhunt was very large, with many police officers, SWAT teams, and helicopters. Boelter was caught without hurting any police officers. His wife was stopped by police but was let go because she helped the investigation.
Governor Walz said the attack was terrible and has changed Minnesota. He said violence should never be how people solve political problems. The Mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, said police did a great job and that violence in politics is wrong.
Boelter is also accused of pretending to be a police officer during the attacks. Melissa Hortman served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 20 years and was the Speaker from 2019 to 2025.
Boelter also worked as a security contractor and religious missionary in Africa and the Middle East. He was once a pastor in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Police found a list of names in the car Boelter used. The list had some important political leaders like Governor Walz, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and Attorney General Keith Ellison. Police in nearby states were told to watch out for people on that list.
The shootings started early on Saturday at the Hoffmans’ home. Yvette Hoffman protected her daughter by covering her with her body during the attack. After that, Boelter went to Brooklyn Park, about eight miles away, where he killed the Hortmans.
Neighbors said they are shocked and sad. One said the Hortmans were kind neighbors for more than 20 years, and the neighborhood is usually quiet with little police activity. Another said they had received Christmas cards from the Hortmans every year and that the loss is very sad for Minnesota.
These attacks have made many people sad and have started talks about how important it is to stop political hate and use peaceful ways to solve problems.
