US authorities arrested Vance Boelter late on Sunday, the man suspected of the murder of the Democratic Party congresswoman in the Minnesota House of Representatives Melissa Hortman and her husband last Saturday. He is also accused of attempting to take the life of state senator John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife.
Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, are conscious and recovering after undergoing separate surgical operations following being shot, as revealed by a family member. “Both of them are awake and recovering. It’s going to be a long process,” said a nephew.
The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, located in the city of St. Paul, announced on its Facebook social media account that “after tireless and determined police work, the killer is now in custody.”
The message is accompanied by a video image of Boelter’s capture, which the organization has described as the “face of evil”.
How was the main suspect of this political attack arrested?
The arrest took place shortly before 10 pm (local time) near the residence of Boelter, 57, in Green Isle, in Sibley County, southwest of Minneapolis.
Boelter put on a police uniform and a mask for the attacks. After that, the suspect exchanged gunfire with the police and then escaped.
Joseph Thompson, interim federal prosecutor for the district of Minnesota, stated that Boelter “stalked his victims as if they were prey.”
According to information from NBC News, security forces responded to Sibley County this Sunday after receiving a report about the location of a previously recovered vehicle. Based on that initial lead, the officers obtained new information that allowed them to confirm the presence of the suspect in the area, triggering the deployment of tactical units.
An official detailed that the SWAT team was able to approach the subject thanks to effective coordination among the elements on the ground. As explained, the suspect started crawling towards the agents obeying the orders given to him, which allowed for his arrest without major incidents.
According to a friend quoted by the Star Tribune, Boelter was facing financial difficulties after leaving his job at a security company for a failed financial venture in the Democratic Republic of Congo.