BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. – A sprawling, two-day manhunt that gripped the state has ended with the arrest of the man authorities allege is responsible for the murder of a Minnesota state representative and her husband, and the wounding of a state senator and his wife.
The suspect, Vance L. Boelter, was taken into custody overnight. According to law enforcement officials, the 57-year-old was apprehended near Green Isle late Sunday evening, concluding what has been called the largest manhunt in state history, which involved numerous local, state, and federal agencies. Boelter’s arrest came after an intense search that began early Saturday.
According to the Hennepin County criminal complaint, the violent chain of events allegedly began around 2 a.m. Saturday when Boelter, allegedly posing as a police officer, went to the Champlin home of Sen. John Hoffman and shot both him and his wife, Yvette. A short time later, at approximately 3:35 a.m., Brooklyn Park police officers conducting a welfare check at the home of State Representative Melissa Hortman allegedly witnessed Boelter shoot her husband, Mark Hortman. Upon entering the home, police discovered both Rep. Hortman and her husband were deceased.
Boelter is now facing two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder. Authorities reportedly found multiple firearms and a list of other public officials in a vehicle associated with the suspect. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to understand the motive behind the targeted attacks.
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