Minnesota lawmakers' shooting suspect in custody after 2 day manhunt

WASHINGTON (TNND) — The man suspected of shooting and killing a Minnesota lawmaker and injuring another has been taken into custody, two law enforcement officials said.

Vance Luther Boelter was arrested on Sunday evening, ending a nearly 2-day manhunt, The Associated Press reports.

Boelter was captured in Minnesota, though officials did not immediately note where the arrest was made.

Earlier in the day, Superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Drew Evans said a nationwide warrant was out for Boelter's arrest.

Authorities found a car early on Sunday that they believed Boelter was using. Evans said it was found few miles from his home in Green Isle, which is an hour west of Minneapolis. Evans also said they found evidence in the car relevant to the investigation.

Former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their home early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs. Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were injured at their home, just nine miles away.

Who is Vance Luther Boelter?

New York Post documents obtained confirm Boelter was twice appointed to jobs by Democratic governors, serving on the Workforce Development Council in 2016 under then-Gov. Mark Dayton, and appointed by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in 2019 to serve a four-year stint on the Workforce Development Board.

Boelter reportedly posed as a law enforcement officer during the crime, dressed like a uniformed officer and operating a vehicle resembling a police SUV, equipped with emergency lights.

"Suspect exploited the trust of our uniforms, what our uniforms are meant to represent. That betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility," said Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson.

Law enforcement recovered several AK-style firearms from the suspect’s vehicle and discovered writings inside a fake police car recovered at one of the shooting scenes, which mentioned both Hortman and Hoffman, officials said.

David Carlson, best friend and roommate of Boelter, revealed that Boelter texted around 6 a.m. on Saturday, shortly after former Hortman and her husband were killed and Hoffman and his wife were shot.

Boelter texted Carlson and another friend saying that he would soon be dead and that he loved them, local outlet KARE reported.

“David and Ron, I love you guys. I made some choices, and you guys don’t know anything about this, but 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,” Carlson read from his phone in a video.

“I don’t want to say anything more and implicate you in any way because you guys don’t know anything about this. But I love you guys and I’m sorry for all the trouble this has caused,” the message read.

Carlson called authorities after reading that message, fearing that Boelter may have hurt himself, reports reveal.

Gov. Walz condemned the incidents as "targeted political violence." "We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence," Walz said at a press conference. "Those responsible for this will be held accountable."

On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that the FBI had joined the investigation.

"Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America," Trump said in a White House statement.

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The Associated Press and The National News Desk's Anissa Reyes contributed to this report.