Vance Boelter pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to murdering former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and to shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman.
Under the plea agreement, Boelter pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking, two counts of murder, and two firearms offenses. Federal prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty in exchange for a sentence recommendation of two consecutive life terms plus 40 years in prison.
The attacks occurred on June 14, 2025. Prosecutors said Boelter disguised himself as a police officer, used online people-search websites to locate lawmakers’ home addresses, and spent months planning the attacks. He first went to the Hoffman residence in Champlin, where he shot John and Yvette Hoffman. About 90 minutes later, he traveled to the Hortmans’ home in Brooklyn Park, where he killed Melissa and Mark Hortman.
Boelter acknowledged in court that he shot Melissa Hortman at point-blank range after entering the home under the pretense of conducting a police welfare check.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen called the attacks among the worst acts of political violence the country has seen.
“Political violence is a scourge plaguing America.”
Rosen said prosecutors believed they had a viable death penalty case but concluded that a plea guaranteeing Boelter would spend the rest of his life behind bars was the better outcome.
Rosen added:
“The truth is, when you have a defendant that is prepared to plead guilty to consecutive life terms plus (40 years) to ensure that he never sees freedom again in his entire life, that was an opportunity that we just could not pass up.”
The hearing drew members of both affected families. John and Yvette Hoffman attended, as did the Hortmans’ children, Sophie and Colin. When Boelter confirmed the point-blank shot, someone in the gallery gasped and cried.
The Hoffman family said in a statement after the hearing:
“There is no justice for Mark and Melissa Hortman, and there is not justice when our family and our state will never truly heal.”
The family also addressed the broader climate that made the attacks possible:
“The opportunity for justice is for Minnesotans and Americans to serve, to treat people with respect, to stop de-humanizing each other, and to stop dividing our country with hate and rhetoric.”
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced that state prosecutors will continue pursuing separate charges stemming from the shootings.
Boelter faces eight state charges, including first-degree premeditated murder in the deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman and attempted first-degree murder related to the shootings of John Hoffman, Yvette Hoffman, and Hope Hoffman. The indictment also includes charges connected to the attempted murder of Rep. Kristin Bahner, impersonating a police officer, and the death of the Hortmans’ dog, Gilbert.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the federal plea agreement does not affect the state prosecution.
“Mr. Boelter will sit in a Hennepin County courtroom and be held accountable for his actions.”
The guilty plea comes nearly one year after the shootings. Boelter was arrested after a 43-hour search, which authorities said was the largest manhunt in state history, that ended near Green Isle, Minnesota. Investigators later said he had also visited the homes of two other lawmakers on the night of the attacks, but did not make contact with those families.
Boelter is expected to be formally sentenced in federal court later this summer.
His state prosecution will proceed separately.
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