Minnesota Lawmaker and Husband Killed in Targeted Shooting; Suspect Captured After Largest Manhunt in State History
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 16
- 3 min read
A manhunt for Vance Boelter, the suspect in a politically targeted shooting that killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, ended Sunday with his dramatic surrender in a wooded area near his home. Authorities had launched what became the largest manhunt in Minnesota’s history following a string of attacks that also left State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, critically wounded.
Boelter, now in custody and facing two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder, allegedly posed as a police officer and carried out coordinated attacks on the homes of the two Democratic lawmakers early Saturday morning in the northern Minneapolis suburbs.
The Hoffmans were the first targets. A masked individual arrived at their home in Champlin around 2 a.m., shooting both John and Yvette Hoffman. Their adult daughter called 911, triggering police response. Soon after, Brooklyn Park officers visited the Hortmans’ residence, where they witnessed the suspect shoot Mark Hortman through the open door. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside. The suspect escaped after exchanging gunfire with responding officers.
Boelter fled the scene in a vehicle modified to resemble a police car, later found abandoned in rural Sibley County, where he resides. A massive multi-agency operation involving 20 tactical teams, helicopters, and foot patrols combed the forest near his home. After hours of search, Boelter crawled out from hiding and surrendered to law enforcement officers in a nearby field.
He was booked into the Hennepin County Jail at 1:02 a.m. Monday, wearing an orange prison uniform. Authorities confirmed that Boelter altered a vehicle to pose as law enforcement and used this disguise to gain access to the victims.
Officials have not disclosed a motive, but law enforcement recovered writings from Boelter's abandoned vehicle that included a list of approximately 70 names—mostly political and community figures, abortion rights advocates, and health care facilities—suggesting broader plans for violence. Among those on the list were lawmakers outspoken in support of reproductive rights.
Boelter, a former political appointee, once served on the same state workforce development board as Sen. Hoffman, though their relationship remains unclear. At approximately 6 a.m. Saturday, he sent apologetic farewell texts to friends, implying he did not expect to survive.
“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,” one message read.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the attack “unthinkable” and warned against allowing violence to become a norm in political discourse. “One man’s unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota,” Walz said at a press conference following Boelter's arrest.
The attack comes amid increasing political violence and polarization across the United States. Lawmakers and residents expressed deep grief and concern about the rising threats elected officials face.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar posted a message from Yvette Hoffman, who remains hospitalized along with her husband. “John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,” Yvette said. “He took 9 bullet hits. I took 8, and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark.”
Outside the Minnesota State Capitol, mourners left flowers, American flags, and handwritten notes at a makeshift memorial for the Hortmans. One message read, “You were our leader through the hardest of times. Rest in Power.”
Melissa Hortman, remembered as a “powerhouse” of Minnesota politics, led the state through some of its most difficult moments, earning respect across party lines. Community members gathered to honor her legacy and grieve the shocking loss.
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