Vance Boelter has pleaded guilty in connection to the 2025 murder of Minnesota Representative and former Democratic Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman.
On Thursday, June 11, Boelter, 58, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, as well as admitted to shooting Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, and attempting to shoot their daughter, Hope. Additionally, Boelter admitted to stalking Melissa, 55, and John, 61, and to a firearms offense.
By pleading guilty, Boelter will not face the possibility of the death penalty as part of his plea deal. The deal also stated that he agreed to be sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison plus 40 years, according to the Associated Press.
The Hoffmans attended the hearing at the U.S. district court in Minneapolis on June 11, while the Hortmans’ children Sophie and Colin were also present, according to CBS News.
The killings took place on June 14, 2025, when Boelter drove to the Hoffmans’ home in Champlin, Minnesota, in a vehicle that appeared to look like a police squad car. Boelter wore a fake police uniform with a realistic silicone mask over his head and claimed to be law enforcement as he approached the home.
The Hoffmans quickly realized Boelter was not a police officer and tried to close the door, but he shot them several times before they could do so.
Boelter, who was carrying a list of names and addresses for dozens of Democratic officials in Minnesota, then went to the homes of two other officials. When neither official was home, he went to the Hortmans’ home in Brooklyn Park, entered the residence and fired multiple times.
At the time of the second attack, police were already aware of the shooting at the Hoffman residence and went to check on Hortman. Boelter started shooting police as they approached the Hortmans’ home and he fatally shot the couple.
Boelter also shot the family’s golden retriever, Gilbert. The dog initially survived the shooting, but was euthanized after suffering grave injuries.
The gunman then fled the scene and remained on the run for two days before he was apprehended near his Green Isle home.
While Boelter’s sentence was agreed upon in his plea deal, his official sentencing hearing will take place on a later date.
Following the attacks, the Hoffmans filed a civil lawsuit against Boelter claiming that they will never fully recover from the incident.
Yvette said in the filing that she is suffering from “longstanding physical weakness that prevents her from performing the physical functions of her previous employment,” per the complaint viewed by People. Meanwhile, John claimed his left arm and hand will likely never recover from the injuries he sustained and he also suffered permanent damage to his digestive and urinary systems.
