On Thursday, August 7, 2025, Vance Boelter, 58, pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder, stalking, and firearms violations. Boelter, represented by federal public defender Manny Atwal, entered his plea in court. The courtroom illustration depicts Boelter at the lectern during the proceedings. The charges against Boelter are serious and involve multiple offenses.
Vance Boelter, accused of killing Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges, including murder, firearms offenses, and stalking. The 58-year-old faces a potential death penalty if convicted. A revised schedule for the complex case, which involves extensive evidence, was set by the judge, though a trial date has not yet been determined. Boelter is also facing state charges for the attack, which authorities initially described as a politically motivated assassination, and the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.
Vance Boelter was indicted on federal charges for the killing of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and for seriously injuring Senator John Hoffman and his wife. The indictment includes six charges, some of which carry the possibility of the death penalty, as announced by Acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson. Boelter is also accused of shooting at the Hoffmans’ daughter. Authorities recovered the firearms used in the incident, and the attacks were reportedly highly planned, with Boelter gathering information and supplies for months.
Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman has been released from the intensive care unit and is now in a rehabilitation facility following a June shooting. Hoffman was shot nine times after the suspect, who claimed to be a police officer, opened fire. His wife, Yvette Hoffman, who was also injured in the attack, has already been released. The suspect, Vance Boelter, is charged with stalking and murdering another state representative, Melissa Hortman, and her husband, as well as stalking and shooting the Hoffmans.
Vance Boelter, charged with fatally shooting Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, and wounding two state senators, was identified by the FBI as a “prepper” who prepared for catastrophic events. His wife revealed their family’s involvement in preparedness and Boelter’s warning for her to flee, accompanied by a “bailout plan,” prior to the shootings. Investigators discovered evidence suggesting premeditation and a potential list of targets, including other Democratic politicians. Boelter, disguised as a police officer, gained access to his victims’ homes.
Following the fatal shooting of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, their home was burglarized. The break-in, discovered Wednesday, involved forced entry through a rear window, though nothing appeared to be missing. Police are investigating the incident and seeking information from the public, while neighbors express outrage and sorrow over the desecration of the Hortmans’ home. Meanwhile, the suspect, Vance Boelter, is in custody, facing murder charges related to the Hortmans’ deaths and attacks on other state lawmakers.
Vance Boelter faces state and federal charges for the murders of Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the attempted murders of Senator John Hoffman and his wife. The FBI investigation revealed Boelter visited the homes of at least two other lawmakers the same night, indicating a pre-planned, targeted attack. Boelter was apprehended after a 36-hour manhunt, and authorities recovered multiple firearms and evidence suggesting extensive planning and surveillance of his victims. Prosecutors intend to pursue first-degree murder charges, carrying a potential sentence of life without parole.
Following a two-day manhunt involving nearly 200 law enforcement officers, Vance Boelter, the suspect in the murders of State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the attempted murders of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, was apprehended. Found armed but unharmed in a field, Boelter is in custody and faces charges related to these politically motivated attacks. Authorities discovered a notebook containing a hit list of additional politicians, including those in neighboring states. The investigation is ongoing, with federal agencies considering further charges.
Following the murders of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, a manhunt is underway for suspect Vance Boelter. Boelter, a former member of the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, was found to possess a “hit list” of nearly 70 individuals, primarily Democrats and abortion rights supporters. A shootout with police ensued after Boelter was discovered leaving the Hortman residence, where he was dressed in tactical gear. Authorities are actively searching the Sibley County area for Boelter.
In Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, a man posing as a police officer fatally shot a former state House Speaker and her husband, and wounded a state senator and his wife. Authorities identified the suspect as 57-year-old Vance Boelter, a former political appointee, and offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. The shootings, described by the governor as a politically motivated assassination, prompted heightened security concerns for other elected officials and prompted the cancellation of planned protests. Investigations revealed writings targeting several lawmakers, particularly those supporting abortion rights, found in the suspect’s possession.
John Q. Hosedrinker