MINNEAPOLIS — Authorities arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband and the wounding of another lawmaker and his wife, ending a two-day manhunt that officials described as the largest in state history.
Law enforcement officials said Vance Luther Boelter was taken into custody on the night of June 15, 2025, near Green Isle, Minnesota, following an extensive search involving local, state and federal agencies. Authorities accused Boelter of carrying out what investigators described as politically motivated attacks targeting elected officials.
According to court documents and statements from investigators, Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were killed in an attack at their home in Brooklyn Park. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were seriously injured in a separate shooting at their residence in Champlin, authorities said.
Officials said the suspect allegedly posed as a law enforcement officer during the attacks, using a vehicle equipped with police-style markings and emergency lights. Federal prosecutors later alleged that Boelter had planned the attacks and possessed lists containing the names of numerous public officials. Details regarding the full scope of the alleged targeting remain subject to ongoing court proceedings.
Governor Tim Walz said after the arrest that multiple agencies had participated in the search effort. Investigators said officers located Boelter after receiving information that led them to a wooded area near his property. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley described the operation as “the largest manhunt in state history,” according to remarks at a news conference.
Authorities initially charged Boelter with murder and attempted murder. Federal prosecutors subsequently filed additional charges, including murder, firearms and stalking-related offenses. In June 2026, Boelter pleaded guilty to federal charges connected to the attacks after reaching an agreement under which prosecutors declined to seek the death penalty, according to court records and statements from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The shootings drew condemnation from political leaders across party lines and renewed concerns about violence directed at public officials. Investigators have said the attacks were deliberate, though court filings indicate that some aspects of the suspect’s motives remain disputed.
As of June 16, 2026, Boelter remained in custody awaiting sentencing on the federal convictions and continued to face state charges, including murder and attempted murder. Court proceedings in the state case were ongoing, and authorities said no additional suspects had been identified.
