Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Top Minnesota Democrat

A Minnesota man has pleaded guilty to the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, admitting that he spent months stalking Democratic lawmakers before carrying out a premeditated attack while disguised as a police officer. Vance Luther Boelter, 58, entered the plea in federal court on June 11, 2026, agreeing to serve two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty, according to AP News.

The Attack

In the early hours of June 14, 2025, Boelter drove a police-style SUV with emergency lights to multiple homes of Democratic lawmakers in the Minneapolis suburbs. Wearing a tactical uniform, body armor, and a realistic silicone mask, he knocked on doors shouting “Police, welfare check” to gain entry.

At approximately 3:30 a.m., Boelter arrived at the Hortman residence in Brooklyn Park. When Mark Hortman answered the door, Boelter claimed he needed to see both occupants before he could leave. After Mark pressed for details, Boelter produced a gun and shot him multiple times, then rushed inside and shot Melissa Hortman as she attempted to flee upstairs. Both were killed, and the family’s golden retriever, Gilbert, was gravely injured and later euthanized.

Earlier that same night, Boelter had attacked the home of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman in Champlin. Both were shot multiple times — John Hoffman nine times and Yvette Hoffman eight times — but survived with permanent injuries. Their daughter Hope, who called 911, was not struck.

A Broader Target List

Inside Boelter’s abandoned vehicle, authorities discovered a list of approximately 70 names of Democratic politicians, abortion-rights advocates, and abortion providers across multiple states. The list included U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as AP News reported.

Boelter also stopped at the homes of two other lawmakers that night — state Rep. Kristin Bahner, whose family was on vacation, and state Sen. Ann Rest, where a police officer mistakenly believed Boelter was a fellow officer, causing him to flee.

The Largest Manhunt in Minnesota History

The attacks triggered the largest manhunt in Minnesota history, involving hundreds of police officers, FBI agents, SWAT teams, helicopters, and dogs. After a 43-hour search, Boelter was captured on June 15, 2025, near his home in Green Isle, Minnesota. He surrendered after a standoff with 20 tactical teams.

Earlier that morning, Boelter had sent a family group text reading: “Dad went to war last night,” urging his wife to leave with their children. He had purchased an e-bike and a Buick sedan from a stranger at a bus stop after withdrawing $2,200 from his bank account.

The Guilty Plea and Legal Implications

Boelter pleaded guilty to all six federal charges: stalking, two counts of murder, and two firearms offenses. The plea agreement stipulates two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years with no possibility of parole. U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen said the death penalty was taken off the table only after Boelter agreed to the longest possible prison sentence.

“Political violence is a scourge plaguing America,” Rosen told reporters after the hearing. “Those that would commit political violence at any level should take heed: the Justice Department will seek and obtain the longest prison terms available for your crimes.”

A federal ruling in the Luigi Mangione case — which determined that stalking does not count as a violent crime for death penalty purposes — influenced the decision not to pursue capital punishment. Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911 and has never had a federal death penalty case.

Boelter also faces state charges, including two counts of first-degree premeditated murder and four counts of attempted murder, which carry mandatory life sentences without parole. The federal plea does not affect the state case.

Political Violence Concerns

The case has reverberated across the country, with elected officials expressing fear that escalating threats and political polarization could lead to further violence. In a statement posted on Facebook, John Hoffman said there is “not justice when our family and our state will never truly heal,” calling on Americans to “stop de-humanizing each other, and to stop dividing our country with hate and rhetoric.”

Boelter, an evangelical Christian with politically conservative views who had worked as a missionary in Congo, had been struggling financially after the failure of a security company he founded. Prosecutors have described the attacks as politically motivated, though a handwritten letter Boelter sent to FBI Director Kash Patel did not clearly explain his motives.

What’s Next

Sentencing in the federal case will be scheduled by U.S. District Judge John Tunheim, who accepted the guilty pleas. The state case against Boelter, which had been on hold pending the federal resolution, is expected to proceed, ensuring that even with the federal life sentences, additional accountability remains on the table. The case has already prompted significant security reforms at the Minnesota State Capitol as lawmakers grapple with the reality of targeted political violence in their state.