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Jun
MINNESOTA LAWMAKER SHOOTINGS: SUSPECT VANCE BOELTER ARRESTED AFTER MANHUNT
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CapitalTimesNews / 2 months
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- 2 min read
Vance Boelter, the suspect in the shootings of two Democratic Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, was arrested Sunday after the “largest manhunt in the state’s history.” Boelter, 57, surrendered to SWAT teams after crawling towards officers. Boelter faces both federal and state charges. Federal charges include murder, stalking, and firearms offenses, with the murder charges eligible for the death penalty. State charges include first-degree murder, with a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted. According to authorities, Boelter visited four Minnesota state politicians’ homes with the intent to kill them. He disguised himself as a police officer, wearing body armor and a hyper-realistic silicone mask, to gain access to State Sen. John Hoffman’s home in Champlin. Boelter shot Hoffman and his wife repeatedly after Hoffman realized he was not law enforcement. Boelter also traveled to State Rep. Melissa Hortman’s home in Brooklyn Park, where he murdered Hortman and her husband, Mark. Brooklyn Park Police officers fired at Boelter as he entered the home, but he escaped through the back. Acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson said, “It’s pretty clear from the evidence that he’s been planning these attacks for quite some time.” Thompson added that Boelter had “voluminous writings” that included names of other officials and lawmakers, but his motivation remains unclear. Boelter’s wife consented to a search of their car, where investigators found two handguns, passports, and about $10,000 in cash. After the shootings, Boelter sent chilling texts to his family, including “Dad went to war last night… I don’t wanna say more because I don’t wanna implicate anybody.” The federal case will likely proceed first, but state charges remain in place. Boelter faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted of state charges, and potentially the death penalty if convicted of federal charges and federal prosecutors seek it.
