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The U.S. authorities arrested Vance Boelter this Sunday, the main suspect in the murder of Democratic Congresswoman from Minnesota, Melissa Hortman, and her husband.
The crime occurred on Saturday in an attack that also left state senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, injured.
The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office reported on its official Facebook account that, following an extensive police effort, the individual was apprehended near his residence in Green Isle, in Sibley County, at around 10:00 PM (local time).
“The killer is now in custody,” the agency stated, accompanying the announcement with a video of the moment of the capture and describing the detainee as “the face of evil.”
According to initial investigations, Boelter, 57, reportedly wore a police uniform during the attack. After committing the crime, he exchanged gunfire with law enforcement before fleeing the scene.
The congresswoman and her husband died on the spot, while Hoffman and his wife were rushed to the hospital. Both are conscious and recovering after undergoing surgery, according to Mat Ollig, the senator's nephew. "They are both awake and recovering. It’s going to be a long process," the relative said, according to the New York Times.
The arrest concludes an intense search that mobilized various federal and state agencies. Images of the attacker wearing a sinister mask were released by the FBI shortly after the crime, causing shock among the American public.
A friend of the detained, David Carlson, explained to the newspaper Star Tribune that Boelter was experiencing financial difficulties after leaving his job at a security company to invest in a failed economic project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Authorities continue to investigate the motives behind the attack, although it is suspected that Boelter was driven by a mix of personal resentment and mental crisis, according to sources close to the investigation.
A premeditated political attack and a list of targets
The FBI released images of Vance Boelter wearing a latex mask, a bulletproof vest, and carrying a weapon while posing as a police officer to gain access to the victims' homes.
In their vehicle, a manifesto was found containing a list of more than 50 targets, including lawmakers, abortion rights advocates, and reproductive health clinics. Documents were also discovered with the slogan "No Kings," linked to protests against President Donald Trump.
Boelter was appointed in 2016 and 2019 as a representative of the private sector on the Minnesota Governor's Workforce Council, a position he held until 2023.
Despite having been appointed by a Democratic governor, there are investigations into whether his motivations stem from a radical ideological shift or from accumulated resentments due to recent decisions made by lawmakers.
The attack has been labeled a “political assassination” and is part of a growing wave of political violence in the United States. The community has responded with displays of mourning and acts of tribute, while concerns over the safety of political leaders continue to escalate.
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