The indictment includes stalking and murder, potentially leading to life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Suspect in Minnesota Lawmaker Murders Indicted on Federal Charges
Suspect in Minnesota Lawmaker Murders Indicted on Federal Charges
Vance Boelter faces multiple federal charges for the June shootings of a state lawmaker and her husband.
In a shocking turn of events that has sent ripples through Minnesota politics, Vance Boelter, aged 57, has been indicted on six federal charges linked to the fatal shootings of state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, in June. The state's attorney general confirmed that among the charges are counts of stalking and murder, each carrying the possibility of life in prison or even the death penalty.
Following a two-day manhunt, Boelter was apprehended on June 16 for his alleged involvement in the tragic killings. He is currently in custody in Minnesota, also facing an array of state charges, although he has yet to enter a plea. Prosecutors allege that Boelter stalked and shot at two additional lawmakers, Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, during a separate incident while planning a more extensive attack that police successfully prevented.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson described Boelter's actions as a "night of terror" for the state, characterizing them as targeted political assassinations unprecedented in Minnesota's history. As part of the prosecution’s case, they unveiled a letter in which Boelter purportedly admitted to the shootings and made bizarre claims about being ordered by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to assassinate U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith for political reasons—a claim dismissed as entirely false by both prosecutors and Walz.
Court documents reveal that Boelter had conducted research on his victims and their families prior to launching his attacks on June 14. Masquerading as a police officer, he approached the Hoffmans’ home in Champlin and shot Senator Hoffman nine times, while Yvette Hoffman was shot eight times; he also attempted to harm their daughter, Hope. Following this, he traveled to the residences of two other Minnesota officials, who were fortunately not home, before proceeding to the Hortman residence where he fatally shot the couple.
Boelter's brutal spree ended when he was captured near his family's home in a wooded area west of Minneapolis, leaving a community grappling with its tragic implications.
Following a two-day manhunt, Boelter was apprehended on June 16 for his alleged involvement in the tragic killings. He is currently in custody in Minnesota, also facing an array of state charges, although he has yet to enter a plea. Prosecutors allege that Boelter stalked and shot at two additional lawmakers, Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, during a separate incident while planning a more extensive attack that police successfully prevented.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson described Boelter's actions as a "night of terror" for the state, characterizing them as targeted political assassinations unprecedented in Minnesota's history. As part of the prosecution’s case, they unveiled a letter in which Boelter purportedly admitted to the shootings and made bizarre claims about being ordered by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to assassinate U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith for political reasons—a claim dismissed as entirely false by both prosecutors and Walz.
Court documents reveal that Boelter had conducted research on his victims and their families prior to launching his attacks on June 14. Masquerading as a police officer, he approached the Hoffmans’ home in Champlin and shot Senator Hoffman nine times, while Yvette Hoffman was shot eight times; he also attempted to harm their daughter, Hope. Following this, he traveled to the residences of two other Minnesota officials, who were fortunately not home, before proceeding to the Hortman residence where he fatally shot the couple.
Boelter's brutal spree ended when he was captured near his family's home in a wooded area west of Minneapolis, leaving a community grappling with its tragic implications.
