Grand Jury Charges Boelter in Politically Motivated Killings \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A Minnesota man has been indicted for killing former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. He’s also accused of shooting a state senator and his wife, allegedly while impersonating a police officer. Federal prosecutors say the attack was politically motivated and could qualify for the death penalty.
Quick Looks
- Vance Boelter indicted on federal murder, stalking, firearms charges.
- Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed.
- Sen. John Hoffman and wife Yvette were seriously wounded in the attack.
- Boelter allegedly disguised himself as law enforcement during the shootings.
- Prosecutors say notebooks found in his car listed Democratic targets.
- Former President Biden visited Sen. Hoffman in the hospital.
- Boelter may face the federal death penalty under the Trump administration.
- The shootings are being called a “political assassination.”
- Boelter denies political motives but has not explained his actions.
- Federal trial will proceed before any state-level prosecution.
Deep Look
A Minnesota man has been formally indicted by a federal grand jury for what prosecutors describe as a politically driven killing spree that left a prominent Democratic state lawmaker and her husband dead, and a state senator and his wife seriously injured.
The indictment, handed down Tuesday, charges 57-year-old Vance Boelter with multiple counts, including murder, stalking, and firearms violations, stemming from a violent rampage in the early morning hours of June 14. Authorities say Boelter, wearing a realistic police disguise, opened fire on the homes of Democratic legislators across suburban Minneapolis in a plot they allege was intended to terrorize and silence political figures.
The victims included former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, who were both killed at their home in Brooklyn Park. Their dog was also gravely injured and later euthanized. Earlier that same morning, Boelter allegedly shot State Sen. John Hoffman nine times and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, eight times at their home in Champlin. Both survived.
The U.S. Attorney for Minnesota has characterized the attacks as a political assassination—the most direct labeling of domestic political violence during the Trump administration’s second term. According to court documents, Boelter was driving a fake squad car, wearing a rubber mask and tactical gear, when he began his spree around 2 a.m.
Boelter reportedly also visited the homes of two other state lawmakers, one in Maple Grove who wasn’t home and another in New Hope where a nearby police presence may have scared him off. By 3:30 a.m., Brooklyn Park police—alerted by the earlier shootings—arrived at the Hortmans’ home just as Boelter allegedly opened fire.
He fled the scene, abandoning his car nearby. Inside, investigators found five firearms, large amounts of ammunition, and a notebook containing the names and home addresses of dozens of Democratic officials, indicating the incident may have been part of a broader planned assault.
Boelter evaded capture for nearly 40 hours before being arrested near his rural home in Green Isle, roughly a mile away. Authorities described the manhunt as the largest suspect search in Minnesota’s history.
Although Boelter initially faced a criminal complaint with six charges, federal court rules require a grand jury indictment for a case to proceed to trial. If convicted of the murder charges, Boelter could face the federal death penalty, which Minnesota itself abolished in 1911. The decision on whether to pursue capital punishment will rest with Attorney General Pam Bondi, in consultation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Trump administration has taken a more aggressive stance on federal executions, signaling a likelihood it will seek the death penalty in eligible cases.
Sen. Hoffman has been transferred to a rehabilitation center, according to family, while his wife was released from the hospital a few days after the attack. Former President Joe Biden visited Hoffman during a stop in Minneapolis for the Hortmans’ funeral on June 28, which also drew attendance from former Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who eulogized Hortman as “the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history.”
Hortman, who served as Speaker of the Minnesota House from 2019 until early 2025, played a pivotal role in advancing Democratic priorities, including major education and climate policies. She voluntarily stepped down following a power-sharing agreement after a tied election, assuming the ceremonial title of Speaker Emerita.
Boelter, meanwhile, has been described by acquaintances as an evangelical Christian with conservative political beliefs who had struggled with unemployment. At a court hearing on July 3, he cryptically stated he was “looking forward to the facts about the 14th coming out,” though the meaning remains unclear.
In a brief jailhouse message to the New York Post, Boelter denied any political motive tied to his views on abortion or his support for President Trump, but declined to explain why he allegedly carried out the attacks. “You are fishing and I can’t talk about my case,” he wrote, “I’ll say it didn’t involve either the Trump stuff or pro-life.”
Despite these denials, prosecutors are pushing forward with what they consider a politically motivated act of domestic terror. The state of Minnesota has also filed murder and attempted murder charges in Hennepin County, but those proceedings will pause while the federal case moves forward.
Grand Jury Charges
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