MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota man, Vance Boelter, 57, intends to plead not guilty to multiple charges stemming from the tragic shooting that resulted in the deaths of Melissa Hortman, the top Democratic leader in the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark. The incident, which occurred on June 14, also left another lawmaker, State Senator John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, wounded. An attorney representing Boelter has indicated that he is expected to appear in federal court for his arraignment on September 12 following a grand jury indictment on six counts, including murder, stalking, and firearms violations. The gravity of the murder charges carries the potential for the federal death penalty.
During a news conference on Tuesday, authorities unveiled a handwritten letter allegedly penned by Boelter, which he sent to FBI Director Kash Patel. In this letter, Boelter confessed to the June 14 shootings but failed to clarify his motives for specifically targeting the Hortmans. Boelter's federal defender, Manny Atwal, stated that the weight of the charges did not come as a shock and noted that the indictment marks the beginning of the discovery process, allowing the defense to assess the evidence against Boelter.
In a previous court appearance, Boelter expressed eagerness to learn the facts surrounding the events of June 14. Although a trial date has been scheduled for November 3, Atwal cautioned that it is “very unlikely” that the trial will occur on such an expedited timeline due to the extensive amount of evidence gathered by investigators. Both the prosecution and defense will require ample time to evaluate this evidence, and the potential for a death penalty also complicates the legal proceedings.
Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, Joe Thompson, described the shooting of Melissa Hortman as a “political assassination” and characterized the attack on Senator Hoffman and his wife as an “attempted assassination.” Thompson confirmed that the decision on whether to pursue the death penalty would not be made for several months, emphasizing that ultimately, the decision rests with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, along with input from local prosecutors and victims’ families.
Although Minnesota abolished its state death penalty in 1911, the Trump administration has indicated a willingness to vigorously pursue capital punishment for qualifying federal offenses. Investigators have disclosed limited information about Boelter's motivations. Friends have depicted him as an evangelical Christian with conservative political views who had been struggling to find stable employment. Reports indicate that Boelter had compiled lists of politicians predominantly from the Democratic Party and lawyers associated with national firms. In an interview, he denied that his actions stemmed from his staunch opposition to abortion or his support for President Donald Trump, leaving his underlying motives unclear.
On the day of the incident, Boelter is believed to have disguised himself as a police officer while driving a fake squad car to the Hoffmans’ residence in Champlin, a suburb of Minneapolis. He allegedly shot Senator Hoffman nine times and his wife, Yvette, eight times; however, both survived the attack. Subsequently, Boelter is said to have traveled to the Hortmans’ home in Brooklyn Park, where he fatally shot both Melissa and Mark. Tragically, their dog was so severely injured in the incident that it had to be euthanized.
Following the shootings, investigators discovered Boelter’s letter to the FBI in a vehicle he had left abandoned near his rural home in Green Isle, located west of Minneapolis. He surrendered to law enforcement the night after the shootings, culminating in what has been described as the largest manhunt for a suspect in Minnesota’s history.
