The man accused of a tragic shooting that resulted in the deaths of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, has been arrested. Vance Boelter, 57, was taken into custody late Sunday night. He is also suspected of seriously injuring state senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, during the same incident.
Law enforcement officials reported that Boelter was found in Minnesota, although further specifics about the arrest have not yet been disclosed. He is believed to have fled on foot after the shooting at Hortman’s residence, where the incident occurred early Saturday morning. Notably, he allegedly wore a police uniform that closely resembled that of an actual officer, potentially allowing him to evade detection.
Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, indicated that a nationwide warrant had been issued for Boelter’s capture earlier that day. Authorities uncovered a vehicle they believe Boelter had been using, discovered a few miles away from his home in Green Isle, along with evidence pertinent to the investigation.
On Sunday afternoon, the FBI had announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Boelter’s arrest and circulated a photo of him wearing a tan cowboy hat. Local and national support has been significant, with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar sharing a heartfelt statement from Yvette Hoffman. She expressed gratitude towards the community for their support during this difficult time. “John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,” she relayed. Both Hoffman and his wife are recovering from multiple gunshot wounds, with Yvette noting that they feel fortunate to be alive despite the devastating losses of their friends.
This tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the Minnesota community, reinforcing calls for greater attention to gun violence and security measures for public officials. As the investigation continues, there is hope that the Hoffman family will recover fully and that such acts of violence can be addressed more effectively in the future.