Authorities arrested suspected shooter of Minnesota Senators
Police caught Minnesota Sen. Melissa Hortman and her husband Vance Luther Boerter, the man accused of murdering Minnesota Senator Melissa Hortman and her husband, and injured the state senator and his wife.
Days after the shooters shot and killed two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, surviving victims shared updates on their recovery in what Gov. Tim Waltz called it a “political motivation” attack.
Authorities arrested Vance Luther Belter, 57, on June 15, allegedly murdering State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and injuring Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
Both the lawmaker and his spouse were shot and killed in their respective homes on June 14 in separate incidents, authorities said. Bolter posed as a law enforcement officer to access the victim’s home, police said.
Bolter has been arrested in Sibley County, the largest manhunt official in the state’s history, about 50 miles from Minneapolis.
He was charged with two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, according to criminal charges filed in Hennepin County, reviewed by USA Today.
Here’s what we know about the shooting victims:
Senator John Hoffman and his wife are recovering from multiple gunshot wounds: “Lucky and alive.”
In a social media post on June 15th around 7pm, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota shared Yvette Hoffman’s latest update on her and her husband’s recovery.
Yvette Hoffman said in a statement that she was shot eight times, but her husband suffered nine gunshot wounds.
“We are incredibly lucky to be both alive,” Yvette Hoffman said.
Yvette Hoffman added that the family has been “humbled with love and overflow” but that it has been “broken and devastated” by the deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman.
“We don’t have words,” she said. “There is never a place for this kind of political hatred.”
She added that John Hoffman “bears many surgeries” and that “every hour is approaching until he gets out of the woods.” During a press conference a few hours later, Waltz said Sen. Hoffmann “is moving towards recovery after his final surgery.”
After Boerter’s arrest, Yvette Hoffman said in a statement to the Minnesota Star Tribune that she and her husband are “deeply and deeply grateful” for the efforts of law enforcement officials.
Who is Senator John Hoffman?
Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman is serving his fourth term in the state House of Representatives. He was first selected in 2012 and earned re-elected bids in 2016, 2020 and 2022.
The 60-year-old Democrat originally came from Casper, Wyoming. According to his LinkedIn, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Minnesota in St. Mary in 1988.
Before his political career, Hoffman was engaged in business and education, according to the campaign website. He first took office in 2005 as vice-chairman of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, Minnesota’s largest school district.
Hoffman and his wife Ybette share their daughter, Hope.
Who was Rep. Melissa Hortman?
Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were fatally shot by Bolter on June 14th, authorities said.
Before her death, Hortman had served an 11th term in the state House of Representatives.
The 55-year-old Democrat is also a lawyer and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota. She also received her bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Boston University and a master’s degree in government from Harvard University, according to House Bio.
She and her husband had two children together.
Contributor: Christopher Kang, USA Today
Melina Kahn is a national trending reporter for USA Today. She can be contacted at melina.khan@usatoday.com.