Minnesota shootings latest: Suspect Vance Boelter remains in federal custody on murder charge with bail set at $5m
Democratic state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were fatally shot in the early hours of Saturday, the same day a state senator and his wife were also wounded
Vance Boelter, 57, is in custody, suspected of fatally shooting Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounding Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.
A two-day manhunt for Boelter, described as the largest in Minnesota's history, ended with his arrest late on Sunday.
Boelter has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two of attempted murder by the state, while federal charges are for firearm offenses, stalking, and murder, potentially making this a death penalty case.
Authorities found "voluminous" written material in Boelter's car and home, including plans, lists of names, and surveillance efforts targeting elected officials, but no clear manifesto as earlier reports suggested.
Acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson stated that Boelter had a list of 45 Minnesota state and federal elected officials — all Democrats — and had researched them and their families.
Boelter allegedly impersonated a police officer and wore a "hyper-realistic" silicone mask during the shootings, and also went to two other lawmakers’ homes.
Thompson described video evidence of Boelter's arrival at state Sen. John Hoffman’s home as "truly chilling."
Boelter now in federal custody
A Justice Department official told CNN that Vance Boelter, the man accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers, is in federal custody.
He was turned over from state law enforcement Monday morning and is scheduled to appear in federal court at 1:30 p.m. CT on Monday to face charges.
Official says investigation will look at anyone who 'participated in these crimes'
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, was asked whether suspect Vance Boelter’s wife would face charges. He said the investigation will look into anyone who “participated in these crimes.”
“What I will say when it comes to his wife and anybody else, if anybody else participated in these crimes, if anybody else worked to hide him and provide assistance in getting away, that will certainly be something that we are looking at,” Evans said.
“And we will provide that information to our prosecutors, [who] will analyze and determine whether or not additional charges are appropriate.”
Officials say Boelter 'cooperative'; state to pursue first-degree murder charges
At a news conference in Hennepin County, Minnesota, authorities say Vance Boelter, the suspect in the shootings of Minnesota lawmakers, has been “cooperative” and knew he “had to give up” when surrounded by police.
The state will pursue first-degree murder charges against Boelter, who is accused of killing a lawmaker and her husband. The charges would carry a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole. He is already charged with second-degree murder, but first-degree charges require a grand jury indictment.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty told reporters: “Although police have made an arrest, the investigation is ongoing, and so I'm limited in what I can share about it. On Saturday, our office filed charges against Mr Boelter. Second-degree murder and attempted murder, allowing us to obtain a nationwide arrest warrant, which would allow law enforcement across the country to arrest him. These are the highest charges we can file by complaint, and it needed to be done quickly to get the warrant out. Mr. Boelter was taken into custody, and our office intends to pursue first-degree murder charges against Mr. Boelter.”
She continued: “We are at early stages. We will be reviewing all of the evidence from law enforcement as it comes in and working with our law enforcement partners to develop a case. I do want people to know that, given the scale of this investigation, the review of evidence will take time. I want to assure our community and all those who are grieving that we will seek justice and accountability for the victims of all these heinous crimes.”
Moriarty asked people to stop spreading “misinformation and conspiracy theories” about the case. She said that it is a “frightening time we are living in,” where “political violence is prevalent.”
She added: “We cannot continue on this way.”
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said that Boelter “inflicted unimaginable harm” to the community, adding: “These violent acts strike at the heart of our democracy and the safety of those who serve the public with dedication and courage.”
“A manhunt is over, but the investigation, and more importantly, the process of healing, begins,” she said.
Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said that the apprehension of Boelter late Sunday did not require a “prolonged negotiation.”
He added that “it was a relatively short period of time.”
Boelter is also expected to face federal charges, which could subject him to the possibility of the death penalty. An announcement concerning those charges is expected later.
Shootings are latest episode of political violence in U.S.
The killing of Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, and the wounding of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, is the latest episode of high-profile U.S. political violence.
Recent incidents range from a 2022 attack on former Democratic U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband at their home in San Francisco, to an assassination bid on Donald Trump last year, and an arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's house in April.
Boelter set to appear in court at this afternoon
Vance Boelter, 57, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder, according to a criminal complaint. He is set to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. local time, jail records showed.
Three of these charges carry potential jail sentences of up to 40 years, based on a Hennepin County criminal complaint unsealed on Sunday.Boelter allegedly impersonated a police officer during the shootings, wearing an officer's uniform and driving a Ford SUV equipped with police-style lights, the complaint states.
Boelter fled on foot early Saturday when officers confronted him at State Rep Melissa Hortman's Brooklyn Park home, after fatally shooting her and her husband.
Authorities warned residents to remain indoors for their safety and had initiated the state's largest manhunt.
When police searched Boelter's SUV following the shootings, they uncovered three AK-47 assault rifles, a 9-mm handgun, and a list of other public officials along with their addresses, according to the criminal complaint.
Acting on a tip-off that Boelter was near his home in Green Isle, over 20 SWAT teams scoured the area, supported by surveillance aircraft, officials reported. Boelter was armed but surrendered without any shots being fired.
Recap: What we know about the ‘politically motivated’ shootings in Minnesota
Here’s Andrea Cavallier and Rhian Lubin with an overview of the case.
Everything we know after two Minnesota lawmakers were targeted in shooting
A moment in this country where we watch violence erupt, this cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences.
Recap: Conspiracies fly after Minnesota shooting
Here’s how the news from Minnesota swiftly inspired a slate of unhelpful conservative conspiracy theories speculating about the shooter’s motives.
Josh Marcus has the story.
How ‘politically motivated’ shooting of lawmakers unleashed conspiracy theories
Vance Boelter could face federal charges
As we reported earlier, the suspect will make his first court appearance at 1.30pm this afternoon to answer the state charges against him: two counts of second-degree murder and two of attempted murder.
However, CNN quotes a law enforcement official saying that federal charges could also be handed down to Boelter, given that several names of federal lawmakers were also included on the “manifesto” citing possible targets that was retrieved from his vehicle.
Trump fails to address Minnesota shootings in lengthy late-night rant about ‘illegal aliens’ and transgender people
Here’s the latest from President Trump, who has said nothing further about the murder of Melissa Hortman beyond his initial social media post on Saturday afternoon.
Madeline Sherratt reports.
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