TRANSCRIPT
"I mean, this was a political assassination, which is not a word we use very often in the United States, let alone here in Minnesota. It's a chilling attack on our democracy, on our way of life."
That's the acting US Attorney for Minnesota, Joseph Thompson, speaking after the arrest of Vance Boelter.
The 57-year-old is accused of fatally shooting Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, in their home on Saturday.
He is also charged with shooting and wounding another Democratic politician, state Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette, in their home a few miles away.
Mr Thompson says his actions are only the most recent example of violent political extremism in the United States.
"That's a trend that's been increasing over recent years. That's unfortunate. And I hope a wake-up call to everyone. People can disagree with you without being evil - or needing to be killed or hurt.”
Prosecutors say Boelter also visited the homes of two other politicians on Saturday disguised as a police officer, looking for more victims on his target list.
Investigators have recovered notebooks from his car and residence that detailed some of his planning and included the names of dozens of legislators, mostly or all Democrats, along with abortion rights advocates.
Mr Thompson says Boelter faces multiple charges:
"Late last night, the US Attorney's Office filed a complaint bringing an array of federal charges against Vance Luther Boelter for his horrific attack on our state and our elected representatives. Political assassinations are rare. They strike at the very core of our democracy. But the details of Boelter's crime are even worse. They are truly chilling. It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares. Boelter stalked his victims like prey. He went to their homes, held himself out as a police officer, and shot them in cold blood.
Authorities say Vance Boelter crawled to officers in order to surrender after they found him in the woods near his home, bringing an end to the massive, nearly two-day search.
Drew Evans from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety says in the end, Boelter's arrest was swift because he was surrounded by nearly 200 law enforcement personnel on the ground - and in the air.
"It was a relatively short period of time because they were moving in and he was cooperative. So it wasn't a prolonged negotiation with them. It was more of that they converged on and and because of the extremely good coordination of what they were doing, I believe you certainly had a position where he just had to give up because he knew he was surrounded by who was there."
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says at a state level, first-degree murder charges are being sought against Boelter.
The maximum penalty upon conviction of first-degree murder is life imprisonment without parole in Minnesota, which is not a death penalty state.
The death penalty could apply to the six federal charges brought by the federal prosecutor’s office.
Ms Moriarty appealed for calm, and for people to avoid misinformation and conspiracy theories.
"It is a frightening time we are living in. Political violence is prevalent, and the way we talk to and about each other has raised the temperature to unfathomable levels. We cannot continue on this way. In times of tragedy, but also every day as we navigate our daily lives, we need to find ways to support one another. As our community grieves, I encourage those out there seeking to create additional chaos, to stop spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories. Our law enforcement partners are building a case, using facts and evidence to ensure Vance Boelter is held accountable."
