The man accused of gunning down a Minnesota lawmaker and injuring another is behind bars after a massive two-day manhunt.
Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested Sunday after police say he killed Democratic State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounded State Senator John Hoffman and his wife in separate attacks early Saturday morning.
Police launched what they called the biggest manhunt in Minnesota’s history, with over 100 officers deployed. Boelter was finally tracked down in the woods of Sibley County after police found his vehicle abandoned on the side of a highway.
“He was surrounded. He gave up without a fight,” said one officer at the scene.
Boelter has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz addressed the public shortly after the arrest: “Justice will be served.”
Boelter’s final message before he was caught is now coming to light — and it’s chilling.
His longtime roommate, Daniel Carlson, shared the text he received from Boelter after the shootings.
“Dead shortly. So, I just wanna let you know that I love you guys both, and I wish it hadn’t gone this way,” the message read.
“I don’t want to say anything more and implicate you in any way because you, you guys, don’t know anything about this. But I love you guys, and I’m sorry for all the trouble this has caused.”
Carlson described Boelter as “very conservative” and strongly anti-abortion.
Investigators say Boelter was pretending to be a police officer when he entered Hortman’s home and shot her and her husband dead.
Both attacks are believed to have happened within hours of each other Saturday morning.
Authorities haven’t released a motive but are looking into Boelter’s political views and personal history.
As the investigation continues, the state is left reeling from one of the most shocking acts of political violence in its history.
