Police apprehend suspect in slaying of Minnesota state lawmaker
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June 14, 2025
On Sunday night, authorities arrested Vance Luther Boelter, 57, the suspect in an attack that left a Democratic state lawmaker from Minnesota dead as well as her husband and injured another Minnestoa Democratic lawmaker and his wife. He was charged for the attacks.
He had planned for an attack on a much larger scale, but this plan was sabotaged by police.
Boelter had conducted extensive research into his victims' lives and families, according to police.
Friends of Boelter said he was deeply religious and was a supporter of US President Donald Trump.
The attack initially occurred early Saturday, when one Minnesota lawmaker was killed and another was injured after being targeted in what have been called "politically motivated assassination[s]" by a suspect posing as a police officer. Melissa Hortman, a Democratic state legislator from Minnesota, and her spouse were killed in the attack. John Hoffman, another Democratic state legislator, was injured in the incident along with his wife. They were separate, targeted shootings. The attacks took place in Champlin, Minnesota and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, two adjacent suburbs about 10 miles from downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The suspect was identified as Vance Luther Boelter, 57. Boelter evaded capture following an exchange of gunfire with authorities, and as of Sunday, remains at large.
According to Mark Bruley, Brooklyn Park's police chief, the suspect also drove a vehicle made to look like a police SUV. He was quoted as follows: "It was equipped with lights, emergency lights, that looked exactly like a police vehicle, and yes, they were wearing a vest with Taser, other equipment, a badge very similar to mine, that, no question, if they were in this room, you would assume that they are a police officer."
A search of the vehicle revealed a manifesto that included the names of other lawmakers, as well as the ones who were targeted in the incident. Abortion rights activists were also named in the manifesto.
Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for the area, and federal officials have joined the investigation. Authorities advised local residents against answering the door for police officers unless there are more than one present.
US President Donald Trump stated that he was aware of the incident.
Authorites in Minnesota urged the public not to speculate on the details of the case: "We often want easy answers for complex problems. Those answers will come as we complete the full picture of our investigation."
Sources
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- Mike Wendling. Manhunt after two Minnesota state politicians targeted, one of them killed — BBC, June 15, 2025
- Rachel Leingang. Two Democratic lawmakers shot, one fatally, in ‘politically motivated assassination’ in Minnesota — The Guardian, June 14, 2025
- Avie Schneider, Meg Anderson. Minnesota state lawmaker killed, another wounded in targeted shootings — NPR, June 14, 2025
Category:Minnesota Category:Crime and law Category:Politics and conflicts