Minnesota Lawmaker Shooter Indicted on 6 Federal Charges

Federal Charges and New Details in Minnesota Lawmakers' Shooting Case

A grand jury has indicted Vance Boelter, the man accused of fatally shooting two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses, on six federal charges. This development marks a significant step forward in the case, as prosecutors have indicated that the death penalty is a possibility. The case now moves into the next phase, with further legal proceedings expected to follow.

Boelter faces murder charges for allegedly assassinating former Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in the early morning hours of June 14. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson stated that the decision on whether to seek the death penalty will not be made for several months, with the final determination left to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The indictment follows an initial complaint filed by federal prosecutors last month, which allowed the case to proceed. Thompson also announced the unsealing of a search warrant that provides additional details about the investigation. This includes evidence collected from Boelter’s home and other locations tied to the crime.

In addition to the murder charges, Boelter’s indictment includes two counts of stalking related to his alleged efforts to track down former state speaker Melissa Hortman and Democratic state Senator John Hoffman, whom Boelter allegedly shot and injured on the same day. Prosecutors have also charged him with two firearms offenses, one for each shooting. These charges carry up to life in prison, and Boelter faces separate state-level charges as well.

Hoffman’s wife, Yvette, was injured alongside her husband during the attack. According to the indictment, Boelter had intended to shoot their daughter, Hope, but failed. Prosecutors previously revealed that Boelter had visited the homes of two other officials and left behind a notebook containing dozens of names, including politicians and attorneys at national law firms.

Political Extremism as a Possible Motive

At a news conference, Thompson disclosed new details about the case, including a handwritten letter found in Boelter’s possession. The letter, addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel, contained bizarre claims. In it, Boelter claimed he had been trained by the U.S. military off the books and had conducted missions on behalf of the military in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He also alleged that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had approached him about killing the state’s two U.S. senators, Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.

When asked if these claims were based on reality, Thompson responded, “Yes, I agree.” He added that there is little evidence showing why Boelter turned to political violence and extremism. Instead, what investigators found were lists—of politicians in Minnesota, other states, and attorneys at national law firms.

Background on Boelter and His Claims

Friends have described Boelter as an evangelical Christian with politically conservative views who had struggled to find work. During a hearing on July 3, Boelter mentioned looking forward to the release of facts related to the 14th, likely referring to the date of the shootings. In a recent interview published by the New York Post, Boelter insisted the shootings had nothing to do with his opposition to abortion or support for Trump. However, he declined to discuss the reasons behind the attacks.

“You are fishing and I can’t talk about my case… I’ll say it didn’t involve either the Trump stuff or pro life,” Boelter wrote in a message to the newspaper via the jail’s messaging system.

Boelter also faces state murder and attempted murder charges in Hennepin County, but the federal case will take precedence.

Details of the Attack

Prosecutors allege that Boelter, 57, was driving a fake squad car, wearing a realistic rubber mask, and tactical gear around 2 a.m. on June 14 when he targeted the home of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in Champlin, a Minneapolis suburb. He allegedly shot the senator nine times and Yvette eight times, both of whom survived.

After this, Boelter stopped at the homes of two other lawmakers. One was empty, while a police officer may have scared him off from the second. He then went to the Hortmans’ home in Brooklyn Park, where he killed both Melissa and Mark Hortman. Their dog was so gravely injured that it had to be euthanized.

Brooklyn Park police arrived at the Hortman home around 3:30 a.m., moments before the gunman opened fire on the couple. Boelter fled, leaving behind his car, which contained notebooks listing dozens of Democratic officials as potential targets, along with their home addresses, five guns, and a large quantity of ammunition.

Law enforcement officers finally captured Boelter about 40 hours later, approximately a mile from his rural home in Green Isle, after what authorities called the largest search for a suspect in Minnesota history.