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Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who is suspected of shooting a Minnesota lawmaker, is anticipated to face federal charges after being apprehended in Sibley County on Sunday night. Police described the incident as the “largest manhunt” in the history of the state.
Along with the prospective federal charges, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced on Monday its plan to file first-degree murder charges against Boelter. He stands accused of killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, early Saturday morning at their home in Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis.
He also allegedly shot State Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, in their nearby Champlin home in a related attack.
Boelter currently faces charges including two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of the victims — identified as Melissa and Mark Hortman — and two counts of attempted second-degree murder for the shootings of victims identified as John Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman.
Lawmakers Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman. (AP Images)
His bail was set at $5 million.
Authorities have said the suspect targeted lawmakers in a planned attack, showing up at their homes wearing a police-like uniform and a mask.
Democratic Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar shared a message from Hoffman’s wife on Sunday, saying the state senator was shot nine times and she eight.
“John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,” Yvette wrote. “He took [nine] bullet hits. I took [eight] and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark. There is never a place for this kind of political hate.”
