Man who pleaded guilty to killing top Minnesota Democratic lawmaker and her husband to be sentenced
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota man who pleaded guilty Killing a senior Democratic lawmaker and her husband will be sentenced in federal court on Thursday.
Vance Boelter, 59, admitted this admit guilt In June, almost a year after the Minneapolis-area attacks, he stalked and killed House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and seriously injured a State Senator. john hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
Boelter pleads guilty to six charges to prevent federal prosecutors from filing charges death penalty; instead he agreed to serve two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years in prison. Prosecutors and federal advocates said that was the maximum sentence other than the death penalty.
Boelter admitted in court that he identified and stalked his targets for months before going to their homes in the middle of the night, posing as a police officer, with the intention of killing them.
The murders created a stir biggest police search It has caused panic, fear, and increased security and precautions in the history of the state. Elected officials faced increasing threats and political polarization; many people worried it would lead to more violence and attacks.
A memorandum of submissions filed with the federal court in late June was signed as of Thursday, along with objections to that report.
But prosecutors and Boelter’s defense team also submitted letters detailing their positions on possible sentencing.
“Vance Boelter committed an attack on democracy,” prosecutors wrote in their filing. “He shattered his victims’ lives. He intimidated Minnesota’s public officials. He threatened police and pointed a gun at an officer. He brutally attacked the organs of Minnesota’s representative government.”
Boelter went to Hortman’s house around 03:30 in his tactical uniform and mask. June 14, 2025. He rang the doorbell, yelling that he was a police officer doing a welfare check, according to court documents.
Mark Hortman opened the door. Boelter gave Melissa Hortman a fake name and badge number before demanding that she also be called to the door. He shot Mark Hortman multiple times before entering the home and shooting the deputy as he fled upstairs. Melissa and Mark Hortman were killed.
According to police and court documents, Boelter visited the Hoffman home that night and shot and seriously wounded the senator and his wife. Court documents state that Boelter also went two other MPs houses that night. On one occasion, no one answered the door, and on another, Boelter became frightened when an officer approached him in his car, believing he was another officer.
Boelter also faces state charges of two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, impersonating a police officer and cruelty to animals. The Hortman family’s Golden Retriever seriously wounded were shot and had to be euthanized. Hoffman and his family filed a personal injury lawsuit against Boelter in April.
In his letter regarding the proposed sentence, Boelter’s attorney requested that he be sent to a federal prison in Florida, allowed to work to pay restitution, and allowed to participate in therapy and other in-person programs. The letter noted that Boelter had spent decades in food service and had experience in several other fields.
“Mr. Boelter understands that his impending sentence means he will spend the rest of his life in prison. However, the skill set he has acquired from his diverse employment history makes him a strong candidate for programming, employment and other opportunities at the Bureau of Prisons,” federal defender Manny Atwal wrote.
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Lauer reported from Philadelphia.
