Minnesota lawmaker shootings: Vance Boelter to make first appearance in state murder case after federal life sentence

Jeff Day, Star Tribune on Aug 3, 2026

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MINNEAPOLIS — Vance Boelter will make his first appearance in Hennepin County District Court on Monday afternoon, less than two weeks after he was sentenced to consecutive life sentences, plus 40 years in federal prison for killing state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

Boelter arrived at the Hennepin County jail over the weekend to face his state charges, which are wider in scope than the federal charges for his politically motivated rampage on the night of June 14, 2025.

He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for killing the Hortmans, two counts of attempted first-degree murder for shooting the Hoffmans, one count of attempted first-degree murder for shooting at the Hoffmans’ daughter, Hope, and one count of attempted first-degree murder for banging at the front door of Rep. Kristin Bahner’s home that June night. He also faces one count of felony cruelty to an animal for shooting the Hortmans’ dog, Gilbert, and one felony count of impersonating an officer.

Hennepin County Judge Juan Hoyos will oversee Boelter’s case. Paige Starkey is the lead attorney listed for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Hennepin County Chief Public Defender Mike Berger said Boelter’s case will be assigned to attorney Bryan Leary.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s pursuit of a state conviction of Boelter comes more than a year after then-acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Joe Thompson took charge on prosecuting Boelter. That marked a relatively rare murder case by the federal government in Minnesota.

Thompson argued that Boelter’s crimes could lead to his execution, but that largely fell apart due to charging decisions and the Justice Department under acting Attorney General Todd Blanche abandoned the death penalty — a process that infuriated some members of the Hortman family.

Boelter pleaded guilty to all of his federal crimes and apologized to every person he “caused loss, pain, heartache, confusion, sadness, shame, or loneliness.”

If convicted of his state crimes, Boelter would face mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The dual state and federal prosecutions of a crime of this magnitude are not unheard of, as it removes the ability for any potential pardon at either jurisdiction to allow Boelter out of prison.

A similar process played out against former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin for killing George Floyd. He was convicted of murder in state court and violating Floyd’s civil rights in federal court. Though, in that case, the state prosecution went first.

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