The massive search for the man suspected of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers, one fatally, concluded on Sunday evening when he was arrested by police, officials confirmed.
Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested near his farm in Green Isle, Minnesota. He was booked into Hennepin County Jail at about 1 a.m. on Monday, according to online records.
Vance was spotted on a trail via camera earlier Sunday and then taken into custody, police said during a press conference.
Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Col. Jeremy Geiger said when police closed in on Boelter in the woods, he surrendered without incident.
“The suspect crawled to law enforcement teams and was placed under arrest at that point in time,” Geiger said.
After his arrest, Boelter was taken to an undisclosed police facility where he is being interviewed, officials said.
Boelter is accused of the fatal shootings of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and a separate shooting attack on Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse.
During a press conference on Sunday night, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz condemned the killing of Rep. Hortman, saying, “One man’s unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota.” The governor thanked law enforcement partners for their role in the suspect’s capture, saying, “This is a great example of coordination and collaboration.”
Police noted it was the “largest manhunt in Minnesota state history,” with Boelter’s capture coming 43 hours after the shootings occurred.
The twin attacks in Champlin and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Saturday led to the discovery in the suspect’s vehicle of an alleged target list of dozens of Minnesota Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and state Attorney General Keith Ellison, according to law enforcement sources.
During a press conference Sunday evening, police said a hat believed to be associated with the suspect was found near his alleged vehicle. There were several items of evidence relevant to the ongoing investigation found in the vehicle outside of the alleged target list, police added.
The discovery of the hat is what led authorities to believe Boelter was in the area.
