BELLE PLAINE, MN – The man suspected of killing a Minnesota state lawmaker and wounding another surrendered to police Sunday, bringing an end to a massive, nearly two-day search that officials have called the largest in the state’s history.

Key Facts

• Suspect Captured – Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He was reportedly found armed but surrendered without further incident.
• The Victims – The attacks killed former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were severely wounded but are expected to survive.
• Targeted Violence – Authorities say the attacks were targeted. A list of approximately 70 names, including other prominent politicians and abortion rights advocates, was reportedly found in the suspect’s vehicle.

Vance Boelter was taken into custody near his home in rural Sibley County after a sprawling search involving local, state, and federal law enforcement. His capture has brought a sense of relief to a state left on edge by the shocking acts of violence.

How a Historic Manhunt Unfolded and Concluded

The search for Boelter began early Saturday after the attacks. It concluded Sunday when authorities focused their efforts on Sibley County, where Boelter lived. According to the Brooklyn Park Police Chief, Mark Bruley, a police officer believed he saw Boelter run into a wooded area after his vehicle was found abandoned. The search area was narrowed further after a resident reported spotting the suspect on a trail camera.

Law enforcement established a large perimeter, deploying around 20 different tactical teams, K-9 units, and a helicopter. Drew Evans, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, stated that officers eventually spotted Boelter and used a drone to track him as he crawled through thick brush. He was called out by officers and surrendered, crawling out from the woods before being handcuffed in a field.

A Coordinated Attack on Elected Officials

The violence began in the early hours of Saturday morning. Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were attacked first at their home in Champlin. Their adult daughter called 911 just after 2 a.m. to report that a masked person had come to their door and shot her parents.

After learning a lawmaker had been shot, police in the nearby city of Brooklyn Park were dispatched to check on the home of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman. According to a criminal complaint, officers arrived just as Boelter shot Mark Hortman through the open door. An exchange of gunfire ensued before Boelter fled the scene. Melissa Hortman was found deceased inside the home.

Authorities allege Boelter posed as a police officer during the attacks, using a fake badge, a mask, and a vehicle altered to look like a police car. “One man’s unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota,” Governor Tim Walz said following the arrest.

What We Know About the Suspect and a Possible Motive

While authorities have not officially declared a motive, the evidence points toward targeted political violence. A list of about 70 names was reportedly recovered from the suspect’s vehicle, which was left at the Hortman residence. According to law enforcement sources cited by the Associated Press and ABC News, the list included prominent state and federal lawmakers, community leaders, and abortion rights advocates.

Vance Boelter, 57, is a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Senator Hoffman. Boelter and his wife also run a private security company, Praetorian Guard Security Services, which according to its website, offers armed security and uses vehicles similar to those used by police departments.

In the hours after the attacks, Boelter allegedly texted friends, writing in part, “I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn’t gone this way.” Boelter was booked into the Hennepin County Jail early Monday and is expected to face first-degree murder charges pending a grand jury indictment.