Threats and violent acts have become part of the political landscape, still shocking but somehow not so surprising.

Vance Boelter was captured in a wooded area on Sunday night, and charged in the shootings of two state lawmakers and their spouses. He appeared in federal court after being charged with murder.

Q&A with Jillian Peterson, professor of criminology and criminal justice at Hamline University and co-founder of The Violence Project

Melissa Hortman lived the deep partisan divide that Americans talk about every day as a Minnesota House member.

Boelter is accused of then heading to Brooklyn Park, where he allegedly fatally shot another Democratic lawmaker, Melissa Hortman, a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and her husband, Mark in their home, about 15km (9 miles) from the Hoffmans’ house.

Lawmakers are reacting to the shootings Saturday morning, commending Rep. Hortman’s work at the Capitol and condemning political violence.

On Saturday, two state lawmakers from Minnesota were gunned down in their homes in what Governor Tim Walz called a "politically motivated assassination" attempt. The attacks left one politician dead and the other seriously injured.

The attacks on two Democratic Minnesota state lawmakers at home are the latest in a grim spike in political violence.

Statements are trickling in from elected officials about the shootings targeting state lawmakers. Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband died.

Friends and associates say Vance Boelter, the man officials say was apprehended Sunday night in the assassination of a state lawmaker, was mild-mannered and did not appear to be fixated on politics.