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| Minnesota Legislator Attack: Suspect Vance Luther Bølter Arrested |
June 16, 2025, Dhaka —
Minnesota Legislator Attack: Suspect Vance Luther Bølter Arrested
Vance Luther Bølter, accused of fatally shooting one Minnesota legislator and injuring another, has been arrested after an extensive nearly two-day manhunt. The 57-year-old was apprehended on Sunday evening (June 15, 2025), bringing an end to a widespread search that had created tension across the entire state.
Bølter is accused of fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark at their Brooklyn Park home in the early hours of Saturday, and shortly before that, seriously injuring Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette by shooting them at their home in nearby Champlin. It is alleged that he carried out these attacks impersonating a police officer. Both Hoffman and his wife are recovering after surgery.
The arrest operation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, local police, and the FBI. The FBI had offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Bølter was found in a wooded area near his home in Sibley County and surrendered to officials.
Authorities confirmed that the vehicle Bølter used, which was modified to resemble a police car, was found at the scene of the Hortmans' shooting. Inside this vehicle, investigators discovered a "manifesto" containing approximately 70 names and addresses, including prominent state and federal lawmakers, community leaders, and abortion rights activists. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described these attacks as "politically motivated."
Vance Bølter has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder. His arrest has brought a sense of relief across the state, which Governor Walz described as "the incomprehensible acts of one individual" that "changed the situation .
