Assassination suspect arrested after manhunt in Minnesota

Vance Luther Boelter was arrested Sunday evening local time in Minnesota, the state’s governor said.

The suspect in the murder of an American politician and her spouse in the US state of Minnesota, Vance Luther Boelter, was arrested on Monday night after a day and a half manhunt.

Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, confirmed this at a press conference.

57-year-old Boelter is suspected of shooting politicians Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman and their spouses on Saturday.

Melissa Hortman and her husband died from their injuries.

At the press conference, Tim Walz says that Boelter’s alleged actions have “changed Minnesota.”

– This must not become the norm. This must not be how we handle our political disagreements, the governor said at the press conference, according to the BBC.

Tim Walz has previously said that this is an assassination attempt.

Boelter was arrested Sunday local time near his home in Green Isle. The town is about 60 kilometers from Minnesota’s largest city, Minneapolis, where the two politicians and their spouses were shot.

60-year-old John Hoffman and 55-year-old Melissa Hortman were both elected for the Democratic Party in the Minnesota state legislature in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.

Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot in the Brooklyn Park neighborhood, while Senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot in their home in the Champlin neighborhood.

Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said at a press conference Monday night that Boelter exploited the politicians’ trust by posing as a police officer.

– This betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the police badge with honor, says Bob Jacobson according to the BBC.

At the press conference on Monday night, Tim Walz stated, according to Reuters, that John Hoffman, who was hit by nine shots, has undergone his final surgery and is recovering.

The police also state that Boelter is charged with murder and attempted murder, but the motive behind the attacks is not clear.

Previously, the police stated that a notebook with the names of politicians was found in a car used by the suspected perpetrator.

Boelter has described himself online as a voter who does not prefer any party over others.

Tax returns show that he and his wife led a Christian organization called Revoformation.

 /ritzau/