NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of assassinating the top Democrat in the Minnesota House held deeply religious and politically conservative views, telling a congregation in Africa two years ago that the U.S. was in a “bad place” where most churches didn’t oppose abortion.

SUSPECT CAPTURED: Vance Boelter, the suspect in the fatal shootings of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband, as well as the woundings of another lawmaker and his wife, has been captured.

The man accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses -- two fatally -- is now in federal custody on murder charges that could involve the death penalty. Vance Boelter, 57, was facing first-degree murder charges,

Officials said a man charged with shooting two lawmakers and their spouses was apparently thwarted at two other politicians’ homes.

Federal prosecutors say Vance Boelter went to the homes of four Minnesota lawmakers with “the intent to kill them.” They also released images of the guns, ammo, mask and notebooks they say Boelter used to plan and carry out the attack.

Rep. Hillary Scholten, a Democrat from Michigan, canceled a town hall event Monday after learning that her name was on the target list of Minnesota shooting suspect Vance Boelter. “After being made aware that my name was on a list connected to the recent tragic shooting in Minnesota,

A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten said the representative was among members of Michigan’s congressional delegation named in the list.

The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another has been taken into custody, ending a nearly two-day search that put the entire state on edge.

State Senator Ann Rest, a Democrat, credited police officers who were proactively checking on her safety with sparing her from an attack.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, speaks at the "No Kings" protest against Donald Trump outside the Federal Building in downtown Ann Arbor on June 14, 2025. Ann Arbor joined cities across the U.S. in a nationwide day of defiance. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News