Suspect who fatally shot Minnesota lawmakers receives federal charges

July 16, 2025

Vance Boelter, a 57-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, has been indicted on six federal charges including stalking and murder. Federal prosecutors announced these charges could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty, while noting that Boelter also allegedly shot at state senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette in what prosecutors described as "targeted political assassinations. " During the attacks on June 14, Boelter allegedly approached victims' homes disguised as a police officer, with court documents indicating he had researched his targets beforehand and had plans for larger-scale attacks before being arrested following a two-day manhunt.

Who is affected

Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman (both fatally shot)
Minnesota state senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman (both shot multiple times)
Hope Hoffman (the Hoffmans' daughter who was targeted but not shot)
Other Minnesota elected officials whose homes Boelter visited but who were away
Minnesota communities shaken by the political violence

What action is being taken

Federal prosecutors have indicted Vance Boelter on six federal charges including stalking and murder
Boelter is being held in custody in Minnesota
State authorities are pursuing separate state charges against Boelter
Prosecutors have released a letter in which Boelter allegedly confesses to being the gunman

Why it matters

The case represents what Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson called "targeted political assassinations the likes of which have never been seen in Minnesota"
The attacks targeted multiple elected officials in what prosecutors described as a "night of terror that shook Minnesota to its core"
The perpetrator allegedly planned larger-scale attacks that were thwarted by police
The case involves false claims about the governor ordering political assassinations

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC