Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota praised Hope Hoffman, the daughter of State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, saying her actions at the family home after a gunman wounded her parents were “heroic” and saved countless lives.
The suspected gunman, Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested on Sunday after a two-day manhunt, the largest in state history. Officials said the suspect entered the Hoffmans’ home in suburban Minneapolis early Saturday by posing as a police officer. Hope Hoffman called 911, according to charging documents, prompting a law enforcement alert that led officers to also check the home of State Representative Melissa Hortman nearby.
On arrival at the Hortmans’ house, officers exchanged gunfire with the gunman before he escaped. Ms. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in that attack.
“I’d like to say on behalf of the state of Minnesota, the heroic actions by the Hoffman family and their daughter, Hope, saved countless lives, and we are grateful,” Mr. Tim Walz said at a news conference late Sunday to announce the arrest of Mr. Boelter.
Mr. Walz did not elaborate on the Hoffmans’ actions. The couple’s nephew, Mat Ollig, wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday that has since been deleted that Mr. Hoffman’s wife, Yvette, “threw herself onto her daughter, using her body as a shield to save her life.”
Drew Evans, the head of the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said investigators had talked with the Hoffmans on Sunday but provided no new details about the events at their home.
Mr. Boelter, who was charged late Sunday evening with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, possessed a notebook that mentioned about 70 potential targets, including politicians, civic and business leaders, as well as Planned Parenthood centers, according to law enforcement officials.
If the officers had not proactively gone to the Hortman home after being alerted to the shooting at the Hoffmans’ house, “I have every confidence that this would have continued throughout the day,” said Mr. Evans.
Julie Blaha, a former teacher who is the state auditor of Minnesota, told The Times over the weekend that she had taught seventh-grade math to Hope, who was born with spina bifida, a congenital condition affecting the spine that can cause a range of complications.
Ms. Blaha noted that Ms. Hoffman and her husband tried to ensure that their daughter had what she needed to succeed during her childhood. Hope, now an adult, has been an advocate for people with disabilities, Ms. Blaha said.
On Sunday, Mr. Walz said that Mr. Hoffman had come out of his final surgery and “was moving toward recovery.” He said that his wife, Yvette, was “healing.”
Mr. Hoffman was shot nine times and Ms. Hoffman was shot eight times, according to a social media post Sunday by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who said she received an encouraging update from the family.
The Hoffman family issued a statement just before midnight local time Sunday, expressing gratitude to law enforcement and the public.
“John and I are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We continue our healing journey and are humbled by the outpouring of love and support our family has received from across the state and our nation,” the statement said.
“There is never a place for senseless political violence and loss of life. We are devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark, and our hearts go out to all those who knew and loved them both. We are always at our best when we unite together.”
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