Vance Boelter has pleaded guilty in federal court to a series of politically motivated attacks that resulted in the deaths of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and left State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, seriously wounded. The guilty plea brings a major development in one of the most significant political violence investigations in recent Minnesota history.
According to federal prosecutors, the attacks began during the early morning hours of June 14, 2025. Investigators say Boelter drove through the Minneapolis suburbs in a vehicle designed to resemble a police squad car. Wearing what authorities described as a realistic police-style uniform and a silicone mask, he allegedly approached homes while posing as a law enforcement officer. Prosecutors say the disguise was intended to gain trust and gain access to his intended targets.
The first attack occurred at the Champlin home of State Senator John Hoffman and his family. According to court records, the Hoffmans became suspicious and realized the individual at their door was not a legitimate police officer. Investigators say Boelter then opened fire, seriously wounding John and Yvette Hoffman. Their daughter was also present during the attack and narrowly escaped injury. Detectives later determined that the shooting was part of a broader plan targeting multiple elected officials.
As law enforcement agencies mobilized, investigators discovered evidence indicating Boelter had compiled a list containing the names and addresses of dozens of Democratic political figures across Minnesota. Authorities believe he visited additional residences before arriving at the Brooklyn Park home of Melissa and Mark Hortman. By that point, police had already begun responding to the earlier shooting and were actively searching for the suspect.
According to the criminal complaint, officers arriving at the Hortman residence encountered Boelter outside the home. Prosecutors say he exchanged gunfire with police before entering the residence and fatally shooting Melissa and Mark Hortman. The couple’s family dog, Gilbert, was also critically injured during the attack and was later euthanized because of the severity of its wounds. Investigators spent days processing multiple crime scenes, reviewing surveillance footage, analyzing ballistic evidence, and reconstructing the suspect’s movements throughout the night.
Federal agents, local detectives, and forensic specialists worked together to build the case. Evidence gathered from the scenes, digital records, witness statements, and materials recovered during the investigation helped prosecutors establish what they described as a deliberate and targeted series of attacks. The case quickly became one of the largest manhunts and political violence investigations in Minnesota in recent years.
By pleading guilty, Boelter avoided the possibility of a federal death penalty trial. Under the plea agreement, he is expected to receive two consecutive life sentences plus an additional 40 years in prison. For investigators, the guilty plea marks the conclusion of a complex case that began with a disguised gunman moving through suburban neighborhoods and ended with a detailed federal prosecution built on extensive forensic evidence and coordinated law-enforcement work.
