Crime & Safety
MN Man Gets 2 Life Sentences For Fatally Shooting Top Dem Lawmaker, Her Husband
Federal officials said they would not seek the death penalty for Boelter.
A Minnesota man will spend the rest of his life in prison for shooting two state lawmakers and their spouses last summer.
Vance Boelter, 59, was sentenced to two life sentences plus 40 years for the fatal shooting of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounding and Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.
Federal officials said they would not seek the death penalty for Boelter.
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"To every person I have caused loss, pain, heartache, confusion, sadness, shame, or loneliness, I am truly sorry," Boelter said in court on Thursday, NBC News reported.
On June 14, 2025, officials said Boelter disguised himself as a police officer and traveled to the homes of Democratic elected officials with the intent to intimidate and murder.
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He first traveled to Sen. Hoffman's home in Champlin during the early morning hours and persuaded him to open the door while posing as an officer, officials said.
Officials said that's when he then shot Hoffman and his wife. Officials said he also targeted and tried to shoot the couple's daughter.
Boelter then traveled to the homes of two other Minnesota elected officials, only to find that no one was home at those locations, officials said.
He next drove to the Hortman's Brooklyn Park home wearing a tactical uniform and mask, officials said.
It was roughly 3:30 a.m. when he rang the doorbell, claiming to be an officer performing a welfare check, officials said.
Officials said the Hortmans opened the door, and Boelter shot them to death.
Boelter was eventually arrested near his family residence in Green Isle, Minnesota after a two-day manhunt, officials said.
Officials said Boelter spent months identifying and stalking his targets, before driving to their homes and carrying out the shootings.
Officials said the shootings were politically motivated.
"Vance Boelter planned and carried out a night of terror that shook Minnesota to its core," Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said. "He carried out targeted political assassinations the likes of which have never been seen in Minnesota."
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