Two Minnesota lawmakers who were shot
Share this @internewscast.com

() A court hearing for the man accused of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband has been pushed back after he complained about being sleep-deprived while on suicide watch in jail.

Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested June 15 after he allegedly gunned down former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home at 3:30 am on June 14.

He is also accused of shooting a second lawmaker, Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife 90 minutes earlier at their home a few miles away. Hoffman and his wife survived the attack.

Boelter was captured after a two-day manhunt. He appeared in federal court Friday wearing a green, padded suicide prevention cloak that’s known as a “Gumby suit.”

  • Two Minnesota lawmakers who were shot
  • A memorial with flowers, photos and candles at the state Capitol in Minnesota
  • Mugshot of Vance Boelter
  • Surveillance image of a man wearing a police vest and holding a flashlight

The suspect’s defense attorney asked the judge to continue the hearing until next week, insisting her client was too sleep-deprived to communicate with him properly.

She said he’s been held in the “Gumby suit” without any undergarments since being transferred to the jail on June 16.

The defense attorney told the judge that Boelter has been unable to sleep because the lights are on 24 hours a day near his jail cell. She claimed doors slam frequently, and the inmate held in the cell next to him spreads feces on the walls, sending a foul odor into Boelter’s cell.

Boelter also addressed the judge, telling him, “Your honor, I haven’t really slept in about 12 to 14 days. … I’ve never been suicidal and I am not suicidal now.”

His attorney requested that he be taken off suicide watch and moved to segregation. He has yet to enter a plea on murder and attempted murder charges as prosecutors are still working to secure a grand jury indictment.

His court hearing came as Hortman is lying in state at the Minnesota Capitol rotunda ahead of a private funeral on Saturday, which former Vice President Kamala Harris is set to attend.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Culver’s Launches Exclusive Concrete Mixers: Discover the New Flavors

Starting Monday, the fast food chain Culver’s, originating from Wisconsin, is introducing…

A USPS employee who showed off piles of money on social media confesses to stealing checks from the mail.

A Los Angeles woman who flaunted luxury goods and wads of cash…

Gunman Targeted CDC Headquarters in Anti-Vaccine Protest

ATLANTA (AP) — A man who unleashed over 180 gunshots at the…

Cartels Shift Emphasis to Drug Trafficking Amid Decline in Human Smuggling Profits

() Mexican cartels are shifting direction in what they move across the U.S.-Mexico…

South Carolina Governor Candidate Advocates for Revising State Congressional Districts

BEAUFORT, S.C. () – A new push is underway to reshape South…

ICE Detains Teen with Disabilities Outside of L.A. School

Los Angeles Unified School District leaders are calling for limits on immigration…

Budget Office: GOP’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Could Widen the Wealth Gap

(The Hill) – According to an analysis published Monday by Congress’s budget…

Michigan Jury Grants Almost $60M to Man Claiming Rights Violation by Prosecutor

A jury in Detroit granted almost $60 million to a man who…

American Held by ICE in Los Angeles Claims She Was Denied Water for a Day

A U.S. citizen, who was arrested by immigration officers and accused of…

‘Vast Improvement’: DC Locals Respond to Federal Intervention

WASHINGTON () Residents of the nation’s capital weighed in Monday on President…

Israel Considers Plans to Relocate Gazan Palestinians to South Sudan

TEL AVIV – Israel is currently in talks with South Sudan about…

RCSS: Student Performance Improved on 2024-2025 Georgia Milestones Assessments

AUGUSTA, Ga. () – With over 13,000 students participating in the Georgia…