Minnesota Lawmaker Killer Pleads Guilty in Plea Deal
Vance Luther Boelter, the 58-year-old man accused of assassinating former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, pleaded guilty to all federal charges on Thursday in a deal that spares him the death penalty but ensures he will spend the rest of his life in prison. The plea agreement, approved by U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim, calls for two consecutive life sentences followed by 40 years, according to CBS News Minnesota.
Boelter admitted to six federal counts — two counts of stalking, two counts of murder through use of a firearm, and two federal firearm-shooting offenses — stemming from the early-morning attacks on June 14, 2025, that killed the Hortmans and wounded State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette at their respective homes in the Minneapolis suburbs.
The Attacks
Disguised in a realistic silicone old-man mask and a full police uniform with body armor, Boelter drove a vehicle modified to resemble a police SUV as he carried out a coordinated series of attacks. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Boelter used GPS navigation systems, interstate wires, and the internet to plan and execute the assaults.
He first arrived at the Hoffman residence in Champlin shortly before 2 a.m., impersonating a police officer. When John Hoffman challenged him, Boelter said “this is a robbery” and repeatedly shot both John and Yvette Hoffman. John was shot nine times and Yvette eight times; both survived. Their daughter Hope, who made the emergency call, was pushed out of the way by her parents and was not struck by bullets.
Approximately 90 minutes later, Boelter arrived at the Hortman residence in Brooklyn Park. When Mark Hortman answered the door, Boelter shot him and then charged into the house. Security footage showed him shooting Melissa Hortman as she attempted to flee upstairs. In court Thursday, Boelter admitted to pressing the gun to her head and firing at point-blank range, as MPR News reported. The family’s golden retriever, Gilbert, was also shot and later euthanized.
A Deal to Avoid the Death Penalty
Under the terms of the plea agreement, the Justice Department agreed not to seek the death penalty — a decision contingent on Boelter accepting the deal. U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen said his office was confident it could have secured a death sentence but that ensuring Boelter “never sees freedom again” was an opportunity they could not pass up.
“Political violence is a scourge in our nation,” Rosen said at a news conference following the hearing. “To all of those who would commit political violence: this Justice Department will seek and obtain the longest prison terms for your offense.”
State Charges Remain
While the federal case has concluded with a guilty plea, Boelter still faces state charges in Hennepin County, including two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder, felony cruelty to an animal, and impersonating a police officer. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty confirmed the state case will move forward, noting that state sentences are not eligible for presidential pardons.
“Mr. Boelter will sit in a Hennepin County courtroom and be held accountable for his actions,” Moriarty said, as reported by USA Today.
A Broader Pattern of Political Violence
The case has drawn national attention as one of the most significant federal prosecutions of political violence against state-level elected officials in recent U.S. history. Inside Boelter’s vehicle, investigators found a list of nearly 70 potential targets, including abortion providers, Democratic lawmakers, and abortion rights advocates from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other states. The list included U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, and Tammy Baldwin, as well as U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib.
FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson called political violence “a nemesis of our democracy,” adding that Boelter “thought he was above the law, above the Constitution, and that his personal views justified a violent crime spree unlike any other seen in Minnesota.”
What Comes Next
Sentencing in the federal case is expected before the end of July 2026. John and Yvette Hoffman, who attended Thursday’s hearing alongside the Hortmans’ adult children Sophie and Colin, have also filed a civil lawsuit against Boelter. The Hoffman family released a statement calling for Americans to “treat people with respect, to stop de-humanizing each other, and to stop dividing our country with hate and rhetoric.”
Melissa Hortman, first elected to the Minnesota House in 2004 and Speaker from 2019 to 2025, was the first woman to lie in state at the Minnesota State Capitol. Thousands paid their respects, with former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Governor Tim Walz attending the service.