MINNEAPOLIS — Vance Boelter pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to charges of murder and stalking in connection with the June 2025 shootings that killed Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and injured State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Prosecutors described the attacks as politically motivated and recommended a life sentence, agreeing not to pursue the death penalty.

The violence marked a stark departure from Minnesota’s traditionally open political culture, where lawmakers freely shared personal contact information. Following the incident, politicians removed private details from their websites, and security measures, including checkpoints, were introduced at the State Capitol.

Authorities said Boelter disguised himself as a police officer and wore a mask during the attack, which unfolded over a tense night in suburban Minneapolis. After fatally shooting the Hortmans at their home, Boelter also fired shots at the Hoffmans at a separate residence several miles away. He was later found to have approached two additional Democratic legislators’ homes but did not carry out attacks at those locations.

During the plea hearing before Judge John R. Tunheim, Boelter confirmed that he had planned the assault for months and conducted detailed research on the legislators. Wearing an orange prison uniform with shackled legs, he answered questions calmly and showed little interaction with the courtroom audience, which included members of the victims’ families. Senator John Hoffman and his wife were among those present.

The Hoffmans released a statement following the hearing, expressing that while the guilty plea offered accountability, it could not restore their family or the broader community.

U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen highlighted political violence as a growing threat nationwide and asserted that Boelter would serve life without parole. Rosen noted earlier that the Justice Department had determined the stalking charges likely made Boelter ineligible for the death penalty under federal law, which requires violent crimes to qualify for capital cases. However, he clarified that if Boelter had been convicted at trial, the death penalty remained a possibility, and it was only off the table because of the plea agreement.

Separately, Boelter faces state charges prosecuted by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, a process she indicated would proceed independently of the federal case.

The attack occurred amid a turbulent period for Minnesota, which also saw a deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church and school that August, as well as unrest linked to immigration enforcement later that year. Law enforcement had issued urgent warnings to politicians and protesters during the initial manhunt, fearing additional planned violence based on materials found in a vehicle Boelter abandoned.

Melissa Hortman served as the Minnesota House Speaker and was a prominent Democratic legislator with a record of advancing legislation on abortion rights, marijuana legalization, and family leave. Her husband, Mark Hortman, worked in electrical manufacturing and was remembered as a supportive and engaged political spouse.

The killings sparked bipartisan condemnation and mourning, with the couple’s funeral attended by former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and former Vice President Kamala Harris, while mourners lined the State Capitol to pay tribute. The case has underscored concerns about rising political violence and its impact on democratic norms in Minnesota and beyond.