The man accused of carrying out a shocking series of politically motivated shootings that killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, is expected to return to federal court Thursday to change his not-guilty plea.
Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that they will not seek the death penalty against Vance Boelter, 58, under a proposed plea agreement.
Court filings did not disclose the terms of the agreement, and Boelter’s attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Authorities allege Boelter posed as a police officer and arrived at the victims’ homes in the early hours of June 14, 2025, driving what prosecutors described as a fake squad car.
Investigators say Melissa and Mark Hortman were fatally shot, while the Hoffmans survived the attack with serious injuries. The Hortmans’ golden retriever was critically wounded and later euthanized.
Boelter was arrested the following night near his home in rural Green Isle after what prosecutors have described as the largest manhunt in Minnesota history.
He faces federal charges including murder, stalking and firearms offenses, as well as separate state charges that remain pending.
Minnesota abolished the death penalty more than a century ago, but federal prosecutors had the option of pursuing capital punishment.
Their decision not to do so clears the way for a potential plea deal in a case that has drawn national attention.
Prosecutors have characterized the shootings as politically motivated.
After filing a federal indictment, they released a handwritten letter they said Boelter sent to FBI Director Kash Patel in which he appeared to confess to the attacks.
However, investigators have not publicly identified a definitive motive, and the letter did not clearly explain why the Hortmans and Hoffmans were targeted.
In messages sent to media outlets, Boelter referred to what he described as an “investigation” he had been conducting, at times mentioning COVID-19 vaccines.
Friends and acquaintances have described him as an evangelical Christian, occasional preacher and missionary who held conservative political views and had struggled to find steady employment.
The lasting impact of the shootings remains severe.
According to a civil lawsuit filed by the Hoffmans, John Hoffman suffered injuries that may permanently limit the use of his left arm and hand and caused lasting damage to his digestive and urinary systems.
The lawsuit also says Yvette Hoffman was left with permanent physical weakness, while the couple’s adult daughter, Hope Hoffman, who was present during the attack and called 911, continues to suffer severe psychological trauma.
The state case against Boelter has been paused while federal proceedings move forward.
