Authorities have confirmed that the man suspected of carrying out the cold-blooded killings in Minnesota has been captured.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57 — one of the most wanted men in the U.S. — was captured Sunday evening in rural Sibley County after what authorities called the largest manhunt in Minnesota history.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that around 7 p.m. Sunday, a resident in Sibley County spotted someone on their trail camera who appeared to match Boelter’s description.
Just after 9 p.m. local time on Sunday, an emergency alert was pushed to phones near Green Isle. The suspected political assassin had been spotted on foot, dressed in military-style gear and armed.
Boelter managed to avoid capture for nearly another hour, hiding out in the woods before eventually surrendering to law enforcement without resistance.
Moments later, authorities confirmed the shooter had been apprehended near his former home in Green Isle. Boelter reportedly crawled toward officers, identified himself out loud, and was then taken into custody without incident.
Officials confirmed that Boelter, the suspect in the Minnesota shootings, was armed when he was arrested, but they did not disclose the type of weapon he had.
He is currently being questioned at a undisclosed law enforcement facility.
Authorities say Boelter posed as law enforcement, wearing police-style tactical gear and driving a Ford SUV outfitted with flashing lights, before launching coordinated attacks at both families’ homes.
“The face of evil. After relentless and determined police work, the killer is now in custody,” the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook. “Justice is one step closer.”
Two homes, four victims
Boelter struck early Saturday morning. Surveillance footage shows him arriving at the Hoffman residence in Champlin around 2:05 a.m., announcing himself as a police officer. Moments later, both John and Yvette Hoffman were gunned down inside their home. Miraculously, both survived — despite being shot multiple times.
Just 90 minutes later, Boelter appeared at Speaker Hortman’s home in Brooklyn Park, where officers tragically witnessed him shoot Mark Hortman through the front door. Both Melissa and Mark were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities say Boelter acted alone, and they’ve uncovered disturbing evidence of his planning. Police found three AK-47s, a 9mm handgun, a ballistic vest, and a list of names and addresses of other public officials in Boelter’s vehicle.
His car also carried signs with the phrase “No Kings”—a reference linked to anti-government protests across the U.S.
“This was a betrayal of everything the badge stands for,” said Bob Jacobson of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. “Boelter exploited the trust. Our uniforms are meant to represent.”
Boelter now faces four felony charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder, each carrying a maximum sentence of 40 years. His bail was set at $5 million.
Yvette Hoffman broke her silence on Sunday, speaking out for the first time since the incident. Sen. Amy Klobuchar shared a heartbreaking text from Yvette Hoffman on Sunday:
“John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,” Yvette wrote. “He took [nine] bullet hits. I took [eight] and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark. There is never a place for this kind of political hate.”
At a Sunday press conference, Gov. Tim Walz credited the Hoffmans’ daughter, Hope, with saving lives.
“The heroic actions by the Hoffman family and their daughter Hope saved countless lives,” he said.
Walz also confirmed that Senator Hoffman had just come out of surgery and was on the path to recovery.
