By Steve Neavling
The man accused of fatally shooting a Minnesota state representative and her husband — and trying to kill a state senator and his wife — was arrested Sunday night after law enforcement found him crawling through a field in rural Sibley County, about an hour west of Minneapolis, NBC News reports.
The suspect, Vance Boelter, was armed but taken into custody without incident, officials said. No injuries were reported.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz confirmed Boelter’s arrest at a Sunday night news conference, describing the crimes as a “politically motivated assassination.” Investigators say Boelter opened fire at the homes of two Democratic lawmakers early Saturday morning, killing state Rep. Melissa Hortman, 55, and her husband Mark, and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
“This cannot be the norm,” Walz said. “It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences.”
Nearly 200 officers, including 20 local and regional SWAT teams, joined the manhunt Sunday across miles of remote farmland. Police believe Boelter used the rugged terrain to evade capture for much of the day.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said it was the largest search effort in state history.
Boelter has been charged in connection with the double homicide and attempted double murder, said Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Federal charges are also under consideration, and the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office have been brought in to assist.
Walz said members of the Minnesota State Patrol took Boelter into custody after two days of coordinated efforts by local, state, and federal agencies. He called the arrest a relief after what he described as two sleepless nights for many involved in the search.
