The manhunt is over, and Vance Luther Boelter is behind bars after allegedly gunning down a Democratic leader and targeting others in a chilling impersonation plot.
According to a New York Post report, the 57-year-old was captured Sunday night after a two-day manhunt for the fatal shooting of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and the wounding of State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.
Authorities say Boelter, once appointed by Democrat Gov. Tim Walz to a state board, disguised himself as law enforcement before launching his rampage in a quiet Minnesota suburb, leaving political and personal carnage in his wake.
Boelter reportedly wore a law enforcement uniform and a Halloween mask when he stormed Hoffman’s Champlin home around 2 a.m. Saturday. Multiple shots were fired, striking both the senator and his wife, Yvette. Their daughter was spared thanks to her mother’s selfless act of shielding her during the attack.
Not stopping there, Boelter drove to Rep. Hortman’s Brooklyn Park home, where he fatally shot the 55-year-old Democrat and her husband, Mark. Officers encountered the disguised shooter shortly after the crime, but he escaped during a standoff.
The suspect’s undoing came via a trail camera set up by a local resident. SWAT teams, with the help of drones, tracked him down to a rural field in Sibley County. Authorities said he crawled to officers and was arrested without resistance.
The effort to find Boelter was described as unprecedented in state history, involving over 200 officers and cooperation across federal, state, and local levels. Helicopters with infrared and drones scoured the woods for nearly two days.
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher posted a now-viral image of Boelter in custody, captioning it “the face of evil.” Investigators say they found a disturbing manifesto and list of about 70 potential political targets in the suspect’s faux police vehicle.
The list allegedly included lawmakers and abortion rights advocates, suggesting the spree was not random but had a calculated political undertone. Police confirmed that Boelter’s background included serving on a workforce board with Sen. Hoffman.
Boelter texted friends after the shootings, acknowledging his crimes. “I made some choices… I wish it hadn’t gone this way,” he wrote, hinting at a fatalistic mindset. Investigators are still working to confirm a concrete motive.
His lifelong friend and roommate told reporters that while Boelter supported Trump and held anti-abortion views, he didn’t express violent tendencies. Still, his “manifesto” told another story—one filled with targets and a grim agenda.
Boelter’s wife, Jenny, was also detained for questioning after being pulled over with relatives. Authorities discovered passports and a weapon in the car but later released her without charges.
Gov. Walz addressed the state in the aftermath, calling the shootings an “unthinkable” act and promising the full force of Minnesota’s justice system would ensure Boelter is held accountable.
“One man’s unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota,” Walz said. “Justice will be served.” Boelter now faces multiple murder and attempted murder charges, with the possibility of federal prosecution looming.
Meanwhile, Sen. Hoffman and his wife are recovering from surgery and in stable condition. Their survival is one small piece of relief in a week marked by tragedy, betrayal, and a reminder of how fragile public trust can be when evil wears a badge.
