A massive statewide manhunt has ended with the dramatic capture of Vance Luther Boelter, 57 — one of the most wanted fugitives in the country — following a brutal and politically charged rampage that stunned Minnesota and the nation.
Boelter was apprehended Sunday evening in rural Sibley County, bringing a chilling chapter of violence to a close after what authorities have described as the largest manhunt in Minnesota history.
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, a local resident’s trail camera captured an image of a man resembling Boelter around 7 p.m. Just two hours later, an emergency alert went out to residents near Green Isle. The suspect — armed and dressed in military-style gear — had been spotted on foot.
Boelter evaded capture for nearly an hour, hiding in the woods before surrendering quietly. Authorities say he crawled toward officers, clearly identified himself, and gave up without a fight. He was armed at the time of arrest, though officials have not yet disclosed what type of weapon he carried.
Boelter is currently being held at an undisclosed location as investigators continue questioning.
Cold-Blooded Political Violence
Boelter’s arrest comes in the wake of a horrifying and calculated attack that claimed the lives of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and left State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette critically wounded.
Authorities say Boelter impersonated a police officer — wearing tactical gear and driving a vehicle outfitted with flashing lights — before launching coordinated attacks on both families’ homes in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“This is the face of evil,” declared the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. “Thanks to relentless police work, the killer is now in custody. Justice is one step closer.”
Coordinated Assault, Chilling Motive
At 2:05 a.m. Saturday, Boelter arrived at the Hoffmans’ home in Champlin, falsely identifying himself as a law enforcement officer. Within moments, both John and Yvette Hoffman were gunned down inside their home. Miraculously, both survived despite suffering multiple gunshot wounds.
Just 90 minutes later, Boelter struck again — this time at the Brooklyn Park residence of Speaker Hortman. In a horrifying scene witnessed by arriving officers, Boelter reportedly shot Mark Hortman through the front door. Both Melissa and Mark were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say Boelter acted alone, and have uncovered deeply disturbing evidence of planning and intent. Inside his vehicle, investigators recovered:
- Three AK-47 assault rifles
- A 9mm handgun
- A ballistic vest
- A hit list of names and addresses of other Minnesota public officials
- Signs reading “No Kings,” referencing anti-government extremism
“This was a betrayal of the public trust,” said Bob Jacobson of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. “Boelter abused the symbol of our badge. Our uniforms are meant to protect — not to terrorize.”
Charges, Recovery, and a State in Mourning
Boelter now faces four felony charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years. His bail has been set at $5 million.
In a powerful and emotional statement, Yvette Hoffman broke her silence Sunday through a message shared by Senator Amy Klobuchar:
“John is enduring many surgeries and gets closer every hour to being out of the woods. He took nine bullets. I took eight. We are both incredibly lucky to be alive. But we are gutted by the loss of Melissa and Mark. There is no place for this kind of political hate.”
At a press conference, Governor Tim Walz praised the bravery of the Hoffman family — especially their daughter, Hope — for taking lifesaving actions during the attack.
“The heroic actions by the Hoffman family and their daughter saved countless lives,” Walz said, confirming that Senator Hoffman was on the road to recovery following surgery.
A State Shaken, a Nation Watching
As Minnesota begins to mourn and heal, questions remain about how such a calculated act of political violence could happen — and what can be done to ensure it never happens again.
One thing is clear: while justice is finally underway, the scars from this tragedy will remain for a long time.
