Suspect Arrested in Forest After Minnesota Politician Shooting

The Christian abortion opponent Vance Boelter, who is suspected of having shot dead an elected politician and her husband in Minnesota, has been arrested. The same evening he is said to have visited the homes of three more politicians to shoot them as well, according to the prosecutor, AP reports.

» Published: June 16 2025

Suspect Arrested in Forest After Minnesota Politician Shooting
Photo: Ramsey County Sheriff's Office via AP/TT

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One of the politicians Vance Boelter visited was not at home. The other house he visited he left when the police arrived. The democratic state senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot, but survived.

Boelter planned his attack carefully, says prosecutor Joseph Thompson,

Boelter is now suspected of two cases of murder and stalking, according to the American prosecutor's office. If convicted, he will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

A man's unthinkable actions have changed the state of Minnesota, said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at a press conference late on Sunday local time.

According to police chief Mark Bruley, "the largest police hunt in the state's history" led to the arrest of Boelter in a forest area near his hometown Green Isle. The hunt involved, according to CNN, hundreds of police officers as well as helicopters and drones with infrared technology.

The final clue came when Boelter was caught on a wildlife camera, reports Minnesota Star Tribune.

Dressed up as a police officer

Democrat Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot to death early on Saturday in their suburban villa in Brooklyn Park.

Police who were alerted to Hortman's residence shortly after the shots were met by a man dressed up as a police officer. A car that resembled a police car was also on the scene. The man opened fire on the police and after a shootout, he fled on foot.

He was not arrested until 43 hours later.

Hatred of abortions

According to American media, Vance Boelter is an evangelical Christian and appears to have been motivated by a hatred of abortions. He is employed by a security company and is said to have undergone military training. In a car found near the crime scene, the police found a manifesto along with a list of 70 names of democratic politicians, abortion activists, or people with connections to abortion clinics.

As a nation, we must not get used to this violence. We are a deeply divided nation and it has become even more clear in the last two days, says Governor Tim Walz at Sunday evening's press conference.

Senator John Hoffman has been operated on and is now recovering slowly, according to Walz.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers
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