A Minnesota resident, charged with the politically driven murders of a state representative and her spouse, confessed to his crimes in a federal courtroom on Thursday.
Vance Boelter admitted guilt in the Minneapolis court regarding the shootings that claimed the lives of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Additionally, he attacked Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, and made an attempt on their daughter, Hope Hoffman’s, life, according to federal authorities.
As part of a plea agreement reported by Fox Minneapolis, Boelter is set to receive two life sentences plus an additional 40 years, which prevents the prosecution from pursuing the death penalty.
MINNESOTA SHOOTING TIMELINE: THE FINAL WORDS OF SUSPECT VANCE BOELTER TO HIS FAMILY BEFORE ARREST
Vance Boelter confessed on Thursday to the lethal attack on a Minnesota state legislator and her husband. (AP)
“Anyone contemplating political violence should be aware that the Department of Justice will pursue the longest possible sentences for such offenses,” stated Daniel Rosen, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, during a press briefing about the plea agreement.
The plea agreement was approved by Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, according to a Wednesday court filing, noting that prosecutors agreed to take the death penalty off the table.
“The Attorney General has authorized and directed the government not to seek the death penalty against Defendant Vance Luther Boelter in accordance with the terms delineated in a proposed plea agreement, a copy of which has been submitted to the Court,” the filing states.
“We made an agreement that said that we will not seek the death penalty, provided he agrees to serve the longest prison time possible under the law for every single one of of the counts,” Rosen said. “I would say that the precedent that it sets is that if you want to commit political violence at any level, no matter what it is, that we are going to seek the the longest and strongest prison terms, for your offense.”
Rosen said it was unclear what motivated Boelter to plead guilty.
Boelter shot Hortman and her husband in their Brooklyn Park home, and also shot Hoffman and his wife in their Champlin home on June 14, 2025.
Prosecutors said Boelter also visited the home of Rep. Kristin Bahner while she and her family were out of town, then later went to the New Hope home of state Sen. Ann Rest, but left after encountering a police officer who was conducting a welfare check.
Minnesota state senators Melissa Hortman and Senator John Hoffman were targeted in a shooting that left the former dead and the latter seriously injured. (AP Images)
Boelter allegedly impersonated a member of law enforcement on the day of the shootings and went to the homes of the Democratic elected officials with the intention of murdering them. Once he reached the Hoffman home, he knocked on the door repeatedly, claiming to be a police officer.
Shortly after the Hoffmans opened the door, they became alarmed when they saw Boelter wearing a face mask, prosecutors said. The Hoffmans tried to close the door before Boelter opened fire on the couple, authorities said.
Next, Boelter went to the Hortman home, where law enforcement, having heard of the first shooting, were conducting a welfare check. Officers at the scene spotted Boelter standing near the front door of the home before he fired several shots inside.
Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were struck and died from their wounds, prosecutors said. Boelter allegedly conducted extensive research prior to the attacks.
BROOKLYN PARK, MINNESOTA – JUNE 15: Boards cover the doors and windows outside the home of DFL State Rep. Melissa Hortman on June 15, 2025 in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were shot and killed yesterday morning. DFL State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and hospitalized in a separate incident. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said during a press conference that the shooting “appears to be a politically motivated assassination.” (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
During a search of Boelter’s vehicle, authorities recovered five firearms, including semi-automatic, assault-style rifles, a large quantity of ammunition, and several notebooks filled with handwritten notations. The notes listed the names of dozens of Minnesota state and federal elected officials, along with their home addresses.
A Hennepin County Attorney’s Office spokesperson told the Associated Press that the federal plea deal would not affect Boelter’s state charges.
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