A memorial is seen on the desk of DFL State Rep. Melissa Hortman in the House chambers at the Minnesota State Capitol on June 16, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Steven Garcia | Getty Images
The man accused of assassinating a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband, and shooting another lawmaker and his wife, is expected to face first-degree murder charges, state officials said Monday.
The details of the crime “are truly chilling, it is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares,” Joe Thompson, the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota, said.
“Political assassinations are rare,” Thompson said during a news briefing. “They strike at the very heart of our democracy.”
Thompson said that early Saturday morning, the suspect went to the homes of four Minnesota state lawmakers “with the intent to kill them.”
The suspect “planned his attack carefully,” including researching the victims and their families, and he “conducted surveillance of their homes,” Thompson said.
The remarks come after authorities late Sunday apprehended Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who is accused of killing Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.
Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot in a separate attack allegedly by the same shooter at their Minnesota home. They both sustained injuries, but they are expected to recover.
Authorities launched what they called the “largest manhunt” in state history for more than 24 hours after Boelter allegedly wore a mask and impersonated a police officer to gain access to the victims’ homes, where he then shot the victims.
This booking photo provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office shows Vance Boelter in Green Isle, Minn., on June 16, 2025.
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via AP
“Mr. Boelter was taken into state custody, and our office intends to pursue first-degree murder charges against Mr. Boelter,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said Monday.
The maximum penalty for a conviction on first-degree murder charges is life in prison without parole, Moriarty said.
Authorities captured the suspect late Sunday in a rural part of Sibley County, Minnesota, where he was found crawling in a field. He was armed at the time of his arrest, but gunfire was not exchanged at the time of his arrest, authorities said.
Earlier on Sunday, authorities had discovered the suspect’s car and hat in Sibley County, leading them to zero in on the area.
The shootings rattled Minnesota and lawmakers across the country.
The suspected gunman was also carrying a notebook with names of other potential targets, including dozens of officials and lawmakers.
Gov. Tim Walz has said the attacks appeared to be “politically motivated.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
