Federal prosecutors have officially charged a man in connection with the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband, as well as the shooting of another lawmaker and his spouse, with numerous offenses including stalking, murder, and firearms violations.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, faces both state and federal counts related to the deaths of Minnesota Democratic state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, alongside separate charges stemming from the attack on Democratic state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, Joe Thompson, described the events surrounding the crime as “truly chilling” and stated, “it is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares.”
Thompson emphasized the severity of such acts, stating, “Political assassinations are rare. They strike at the very heart of our democracy.”
According to Thompson, Boelter deliberately targeted the homes of four Minnesota state lawmakers on Saturday morning with the intention to kill. The suspect meticulously planned the attack, which included conducting research on the lawmakers and their families, as well as conducting surveillance of their residences.
These comments followed Boelter’s apprehension late Sunday after a massive manhunt which authorities described as the “largest in state history.” Allegedly, Boelter had donned a mask and impersonated a police officer to gain access to the victims’ homes, where the shootings occurred.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Monday that her office plans to pursue first-degree murder charges against Boelter, stating, “Mr. Boelter was taken into state custody.” The expected punishment for a conviction on first-degree murder charges could lead to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, according to Moriarty.
Boelter was located late Sunday in a rural area of Sibley County, Minnesota, where he was found crawling in a field. At the time of his capture, he was armed, but authorities confirmed that no shots were fired during the arrest.
Prior to his capture, law enforcement officials had retrieved the suspect’s vehicle and hat in Sibley County, which helped them hone in on his whereabouts.
The violent incidents have sent shockwaves through Minnesota and elicited concern from lawmakers nationwide. Reports indicate that the suspect was in possession of a notebook containing a list of other potential targets, which included numerous officials and lawmakers.
Governor Tim Walz has publicly stated that the attacks appeared to be “politically motivated.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
