Suspected assassin of Democratic lawmaker and spouse captured alive after FBI released terrifying doorbell camera footage
The suspected assassin of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband has been captured alive after the FBI released chilling doorbell camera footage.
Minnesota lawmakers Melissa Hortman, 55, and John Hoffman, 60, and their spouses were attacked in their respective homes, on Saturday (June 14).
The attack killed Minnesota Rep. Hortman and her husband Mark, while Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette remain in hospital in a stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery.
Police confirmed that they were first notified of the shooting at Hoffman’s home at approximately 2.00am on Saturday, according to Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
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Officials 'proactively' visited Hortman’s home where they were met with the suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who was ‘immediately’ firing at them.
"The individual was able to escape during that exchange of gunfire," Evans claimed, as Boelter is alleged to have texted his roommate that he ‘may be dead shortly’.
During their investigation, law enforcement are said to have found a manifesto that named several other people on his alleged hit list.
All of those on the list were abortion rights activists, according to police.
A manhunt for the alleged gunman commenced on Saturday, and it was on Sunday (June 15) when police found Boelter in a wooded area in Sibley County, which is southwest of Minneapolis.
The detainment without incident came after police received a tipoff of the gunman's whereabouts earlier on Sunday.
“After a two-day manhunt and two sleepless nights, law enforcement have apprehended Vance Boelter,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said during a press briefing.
Captioning an image of his arrest on Facebook, Ramsey County Sheriff's Office said: "The face of evil. After relentless and determined police work, the killer is now in custody. Thanks to the dedication of multiple agencies working together along with support from the community, justice is one step closer."
Boelter is said to have 'crawled' to arresting officers and swiftly taken into custody and is now facing two counts of second-degree murder and a further two counts of attempted second-degree murder.
The suspect disguised himself as a police officer, even wearing the uniform as he conducted the alleged attack over the weekend.
Bob Jacobson, Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner, said: "Boelter exploited the trust our uniforms are meant to represent that betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility."
Hortman was the top House Democratic leader in the state legislature and a former house speaker having been first elected in 2004.
Hoffman, a Democrat, was first elected in 2012, and runs Hoffman Strategic Advisors, a consulting firm.
Callum Jones