A memorial is observed at the table of DFL State Rep. Melissa Hortman within the House chambers on the Minnesota State Capitol on June 16, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Steven Garcia | Getty Images
Federal prosecutors on Monday charged the person accused of assassinating a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband, and taking pictures some other lawmaker and his spouse, with stalking, homicide and firearms offenses.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is going through each state and federal fees within the assassination of Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the taking pictures of Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse, Yvette, in a separate assault.
The main points of the crime “are truly chilling, it is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares,” Joe Thompson, the appearing U.S. lawyer for Minnesota, stated Monday.
“Political assassinations are rare,” Thompson stated. “They strike at the very heart of our democracy.”
Thompson stated that early Saturday morning, Boelter went to the houses of 4 Minnesota state lawmakers “with the intent to kill them.”
One of the lawmakers, a Minnesota state consultant, was once now not house when Boelter arrived at her house, so he left, Thompson stated.
He didn’t divulge the names of the 2 different lawmakers.
Boelter “planned his attack carefully,” together with researching the sufferers and their households, and he “conducted surveillance of their homes,” Thompson stated.
Thompson stated “it is too early to tell” whether or not the Justice Department will search the dying penalty in Boelter’s case, however it “is one of the options for several of the charges.
The remarks come after authorities late Sunday apprehended Boelter.
Boelter’s arrest Sunday night was the result of what authorities called the “greatest manhunt” in Minnesota state history, spanning 43 hours and involving 20 swat teams.
Doorbell camera footage showed Boelter wearing a mask and impersonating a police officer to gain access to the victims’ homes, where the shootings took place.
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 once taken into state custody, and our place of job intends to pursue first-degree homicide fees towards 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 stated the assaults seemed to be “politically motivated.”
This is a breaking information tale and will likely be up to date.