Fact Check: "Vance Boelter's manhunt was the largest in Minnesota history."
What We Know
On June 14, 2025, Vance Boelter was involved in a violent incident that resulted in the deaths of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Following these attacks, a two-day manhunt ensued, which culminated in Boelter's capture on June 15, 2025. This manhunt was described by law enforcement officials as the largest in Minnesota's history, involving extensive coordination among federal, state, and local agencies (source-1, source-2, source-8).
Analysis
The claim that Vance Boelter's manhunt was the largest in Minnesota history is supported by multiple credible sources, including statements from law enforcement officials. The FBI's Special Agent in Charge, Alvin M. Winston Sr., explicitly stated that this marked the largest manhunt in Minnesota's history, highlighting the extraordinary partnership between various law enforcement agencies that contributed to the search (source-1).
Additionally, reports from reputable news outlets like NPR and the New York Times corroborate this assertion, emphasizing the scale and coordination involved in the manhunt (source-3, source-5). The involvement of multiple agencies, including the FBI, ATF, and local police departments, underscores the significant resources mobilized for this operation.
While there may be other historical manhunts in Minnesota, the specific classification of "largest" is based on the scale of the response and the number of agencies involved, rather than the duration or the number of personnel alone. Therefore, the claim holds up under scrutiny, as it is backed by authoritative statements and detailed accounts of the events.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The assertion that Vance Boelter's manhunt was the largest in Minnesota history is accurate. This conclusion is based on direct statements from law enforcement officials and corroborating reports from reliable news sources, all of which highlight the unprecedented scale and coordination of the manhunt.
Sources
- After Two-Day Manhunt, Suspect Charged with Shooting ... (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/after-two-day-manhunt-suspect-charged-shooting-two-minnesota-lawmakers-and-their-spouses)
- After Two-Day Manhunt, Suspect Charged with Shooting ... (https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/after-two-day-manhunt-suspect-charged-shooting-two-minnesota-lawmakers-and-their-spouses)
- Vance Boelter captured, charged in shooting of Minnesota lawmakers - NPR (https://www.npr.org/2025/06/16/nx-s1-5433748/minnesota-shooting-suspect-vance-boelter-arrested-melissa-hortman-john-hoffman)
- Friends say Minnesota shooting suspect was deeply ... (https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-shootings-lawmakers-suspect-21b2165404bc66f77dd5e0e36efeb065)
- How Vance Boelter, the Minnesota Shootings Suspect, Was Caught - The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/us/minnesota-shooting-suspect-caught-how.html)
- What We Know About the Minnesota Shooting Suspect (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/us/politics/minnesota-shootings-gunman-suspect.html)
- Best J.D. Vance Posts - Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/t/jd_vance/)
- MN lawmaker shooting suspect Vance Boelter arrested after manhunt (https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-lawmaker-shootings-vance-boelter-manhunt-june-15-2025)
