Minnesota lawmaker shootings: Vance Boelter pleads guilty to all federal charges

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Vance Boelter pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to charges stemming from the fatal shootings of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and the shootings that injured Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman.

Boelter pleads guilty to Minnesota lawmaker shootings

Plea hearing:

A federal grand jury indicted Boelter on six counts related to the attacks on the Hortmans and Hoffmans, including stalking, murder and firearms charges.

Boelter appeared for a 10 a.m. plea hearing at the federal courthouse in Minneapolis on Thursday, where he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on all six counts. The plea deal calls for Boelter to serve two life sentences plus 40 years, in exchange for the government not seeking the death penalty.

"Political violence is a scourge in our nation," said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen in a statement. "We now expect Vance Boelter will spend the rest of his natural life in prison without parole. To all of those who would commit political violence: this Justice Department will seek and obtain the longest prison terms for your offense."

The backstory:

Boelter is accused of fatally shooting House Speaker Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman in their Brooklyn Park home, as well as shooting Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman in their Champlin home on June 14, 2025. 

Prosecutors also allege he visited the Maple Grove home of Rep. Kristin Bahner while she and her family were out of town, then later went to the New Hope home of Sen. Ann Rest, and left the scene after encountering an officer who was conducting a welfare check. After a 43-hour statewide manhunt, Boelter was taken into custody. 

"Mr. Boelter carried out a heinous and unprecedented act of political violence against Minnesota’s political leaders. Violence targeting public officials is an affront to our democracy," said Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans. "To the Hortman and Hoffman families, Minnesota continues to mourn the loss and the suffering you have endured. We hope today’s guilty plea brings you some measure of solace."

Hoffman family statement 

The other side:

The Hoffman family released a statement following the change of plea 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.

"While the legal process may provide accountability, true healing requires something more from all of us.

"The choice we’ve made is to go forward with public service and being present for our community. The opportunity to justice is for Minnesotans and Americans to serve is to treat people with respect, to stop de-humanizing each other, and to stop dividing our country with hate and rhetoric."

Boelter facing state charges

Dig deeper:

Boelter was indicted by a grand jury in August 2025 on multiple state charges, including first-degree premeditated murder in the deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman and attempted first-degree murder in the shootings of John Hoffman, Yvette Hoffman and Hope Hoffman. 

The indictment also includes attempted first-degree murder of Rep. Kristin Bahner, felony animal cruelty related to the death of the Hortmans' dog, Gilbert, and impersonating a police officer.

Sources at the Hennepin County Attorney's Office told FOX 9 that the federal plea deal is not a global agreement, and he'll have to address the state murder charges as well. 

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