Suspected assassin in shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers captured after massive manhunt

The suspect believed to have shot two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses was captured late Sunday after authorities tracked him to a wooded area in a rural part of the state, ending a massive two-day manhunt.

Vance Luther Boelter, 57, was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman, former House speaker, and her husband at their Brooklyn Park home on Saturday morning.

Democratic State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot and wounded at their home in Champlin.

Boelter's arrest was confirmed by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department in a social media post were they posted his photo in handcuffs.

"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," the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook.

The arrest was made near Green Isle in Sibley County, officials said.

The Hennepin County District Court said it has issued a criminal complaint charging Boelter two counts of second-degree murder with intent and two accounts of attempted murder.

The FBI earlier had offered a $50,000 award for the capture of the man accused of carrying out two politically motivated shootings that rocked the country over the weekend as protests against the Trump administration's enforcement policies shared the headlines.

Political figures immediately hailed the arrest.

“I’m grateful that this nightmare has come to an end with the suspected murderer captured alive so he can be charged, prosecuted, and punished for the horror he has wrought on our state,” Minnesota GOP House Speaker Lisa Demuth said in a statement.

“Thank you to the brave men and women of local, state, and federal law enforcement who have worked around the clock to ensure this evil man faces justice," she added.