Suspected Left-Wing Assassin Who Gunned Down Minnesota Lawmakers Captured After Massive Manhunt

Vance Boelter, the man accused of carrying out a horrifying political assassination targeting Minnesota lawmakers, is now in custody after a relentless, multi-agency manhunt concluded Sunday evening.

Boelter, 57, was apprehended by the Sibley County Sheriff’s Office after a two-day search that gripped the state. Authorities say he executed a targeted double-murder of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday morning—then, in a shockingly coordinated attack, allegedly attempted to kill State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette at their Champlin residence.

The suspect reportedly crawled toward law enforcement before surrendering. “The suspect crawled to law enforcement teams and was placed under arrest at that point in time,” confirmed Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Geiger of the Minnesota State Patrol.

The arrest marked the conclusion of what Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley described as “the largest manhunt in the state’s history,” with more than 20 SWAT teams scouring the area by foot and air.

Boelter’s motives appear to tie into broader anti-government extremism. Authorities confirmed the suspect had displayed signs reading “No Kings” in his truck—a disturbing nod to far-left anarchist rhetoric. The phrase also coincided with a series of left-wing protests nationwide that took aim at President Trump’s enforcement of immigration laws through ICE.

Officials say Boelter was acting alone. He was formally charged in Hennepin County District Court with four felony counts, including two of second-degree murder for the killings of Melissa and Mark Hortman, and two of attempted second-degree murder for the attack on the Hoffmans. Each charge carries a potential 40-year sentence, with mandatory time added for use of a firearm.

According to court documents, Boelter used a firearm with intent to kill, arriving at both homes in a Ford SUV outfitted with flashing police lights, dressed in tactical gear, and identifying himself as law enforcement. Surveillance footage confirmed he introduced himself as a police officer before opening fire.

Brooklyn Park Police were already on alert following the Champlin shooting, arriving at the Hortman residence just before 3:35 a.m., where they tragically witnessed Boelter fatally shoot Mark Hortman through the front door.

The details are chilling: investigators recovered a loaded arsenal from Boelter’s vehicle, including three AK-47s, a 9mm pistol, and a hit list of additional public officials with names and addresses. A ballistic vest, a police-style badge, and a tactical mask were also found at the scene.

Authorities are treating the attack as a premeditated political assassination.

Despite the horror, there was one glimmer of hope: Sen. Hoffman is reportedly recovering after undergoing surgery, thanks to what Gov. Tim Walz called “the heroic actions by the Hoffman family and their daughter Hope,” which “saved countless lives.”

Boelter’s attack was calculated, brutal, and ideologically driven—a stark reminder of the threats elected officials face from political extremism and the urgent need to uphold law and order in an increasingly unstable climate.