Melissa Hortman served six years as Minnesota House Speaker and led the 67-67 split chamber as Minority Leader. She was in her 11th term. Boelter's notebook listed her name, home address, spouse's name, number of children, and a surveillance vantage point: "Big house off golf course 2 ways in to watch from one spot." She was shot multiple times inside her Brooklyn Park home as she attempted to flee upstairs. Boelter pressed the gun to her head and fired. She died from her injuries.
Mark Hortman answered the front door when Boelter arrived at approximately 3:30 AM, believing the man with a flashlight and a badge was a police officer conducting a welfare check. Mr. Hortman said, "Good God, I was asleep." He asked Boelter for his name, badge number, and jurisdiction. When Boelter hesitated and said "Uh — Maple Grove," Mark Hortman was shot multiple times through the open door. He was found by responding officers lying on the floor. He died from his injuries.
Sen. Hoffman answered the door with his wife and daughter at approximately 2:05 AM. Boelter claimed to be a police officer responding to a shooting and asked if the family had firearms. When the Hoffmans realized Boelter was wearing a mask, he said "this is a robbery" and shot Sen. Hoffman repeatedly. His daughter called 911. Sen. Hoffman was transported to a local hospital with critical gunshot wounds and survived. Per the plea agreement, he sustained permanent disfigurement and life-threatening bodily injury.
Yvette Hoffman attempted to shut Boelter outside the home by closing the front door on him. Boelter then shot her repeatedly. She was transported to hospital with critical gunshot wounds and survived. Their daughter, Hope Hoffman, was present in the home and was not shot. Count Six of the federal indictment covers the shooting of John and Yvette Hoffman and the attempted shooting of Hope Hoffman.
The plea agreement states clearly: Boelter planned the murders months in advance. He acted alone in both the planning and the execution. Using his personal laptop, he researched and identified intended victims through online people-search websites, online digital maps, and other internet sources. He compiled and recorded detailed information — names, spouses, ages, children, home addresses, descriptions of residences, surveillance vantage points, phone numbers — by hand in paper notebooks. He purchased a GPS navigation device and input the home addresses of his targets.
The FBI affidavit confirmed that Boelter's notebooks listed the names and home addresses of more than 45 Minnesota state and federal public officials — mostly or all Democrats. His notebook contained handwritten surveillance notes on the Hortman home: "married Mark 2 children 11th term" — and: "Big house off golf course 2 ways in to watch from one spot."
Five days before the attacks — on June 9, 2025 — Boelter purchased from Fleet Farm: a flashlight, a tactical rifle case, two types of firearm ammunition, and materials used to create the fake "POLICE" license plate attached to his SUV. He equipped his black 2015 Ford Explorer with law-enforcement-style emergency lights and the fake plate. He purchased a hyper-realistic silicone mask that made him appear to be an older man, consistent with those sold on websites he had researched and noted in his notebooks.
After abandoning his SUV at the Hortman home, Boelter fled on foot. He purchased a Buick sedan and an e-bike from a stranger at a bus stop, withdrew $2,200 from a US Bank branch — emptying his account — and was captured on bank security cameras wearing a cowboy hat. He abandoned the Buick on Highway 25 and fled on the e-bike.
Inside the abandoned Buick, officers found a handwritten letter addressed to the FBI. The writer identified himself as "Dr. Vance Luther Boelter" and admitted to being:
"the shooter at large in Minnesota involved in the 2 shootings the morning of Saturday June 15th."
Boelter also sent a group text to family members at 6:18 AM: "Dad went to war last night . . . I don't wanna say more because I don't wanna implicate anybody." He texted his wife separately: "Words are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation. . . . there's gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don't want you guys around."
At approximately 9:10 PM on June 15, 2025, law enforcement located Boelter in a field in Green Isle, Minnesota — approximately one mile from his family residence. He was taken into custody.
Vance Luther Boelter — DOB July 23, 1967 — Green Isle, Minnesota. No prior criminal record. First-time offender by prior history. The sentencing guidelines denied zero-point offender reduction because he used violence resulting in death and possessed a firearm during the offense. The parties stipulated to a combined adjusted offense level of 57 — Sentencing Guidelines range: Life.
Boelter's wife's vehicle, searched with consent, contained two handguns, approximately $10,000 in cash, and passports for Mrs. Boelter and her children — consistent with a planned flight from the area. Boelter's Fremont Avenue residence in north Minneapolis was searched under warrant — officers found additional notebooks containing many of the same public officials named in the SUV notebooks.
Vance L. Boelter — Hennepin County booking photographs released June 16, 2025. Source: Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.
| Count | Charge | Statute | Statutory Max | Plea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count 1 | Stalking of Rep. Melissa Hortman — resulting in her death | 18 U.S.C. §§ 2261A(2)(A), 2261(b)(1) | Life or any term of years | GUILTY |
| Count 2 | Stalking of Sen. John Hoffman — resulting in serious bodily injury | 18 U.S.C. §§ 2261A(2)(A), 2261(b)(2) | Life or any term of years | GUILTY |
| Count 3 | Murder of Melissa Hortman Through Use of a Firearm — with malice aforethought | 18 U.S.C. § 924(j) | Any term, life, or death | GUILTY |
| Count 4 | Murder of Mark Hortman Through Use of a Firearm — with malice aforethought | 18 U.S.C. § 924(j) | Any term, life, or death | GUILTY |
| Count 5 | Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence — Shooting of Melissa and Mark Hortman | 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i)(ii)(iii) | Not less than 10 years consecutive | GUILTY |
| Count 6 | Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence — Shooting of John and Yvette Hoffman and attempted shooting of Hope Hoffman | 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i)(ii)(iii) | Not less than 10 years consecutive | GUILTY |
Death penalty waived by the Department of Justice as part of the plea agreement
Fine range: $50,000–$500,000 | Mandatory restitution to victims | Forfeiture of all firearms and ammunition
Simultaneously with the federal proceedings, the State of Minnesota filed a criminal complaint in Hennepin County District Court — Court File No. 27-CR-25-14999 — on June 14, 2025, the same day as the murders. Bail was set at $5,000,000. The state warrant was issued for nationwide execution.
| Count | Charge | Statute | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Count I | Murder 2nd Degree — With Intent — Death of Victim 1 (Melissa Hortman) — firearm | Minn. Stat. § 609.19.1(1) | 40 years |
| Count II | Murder 2nd Degree — With Intent — Death of Victim 2 (Mark Hortman) — firearm | Minn. Stat. § 609.19.1(1) | 40 years |
| Count III | Attempted Murder 2nd Degree — Victim 3 (Sen. John Hoffman) — firearm | Minn. Stat. § 609.19.1(1) / 609.17.4(2) | 20 years |
| Count IV | Attempted Murder 2nd Degree — Victim 4 (Yvette Hoffman) — firearm | Minn. Stat. § 609.19.1(1) | 40 years |
1. Federal Criminal Complaint — United States v. Vance Luther Boelter — Case No. 25-mj-376 (JFD) — U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota — Filed June 15, 2025 — Six counts — Complainant: FBI Special Agent Terry Getsch — Magistrate Judge: Hon. John F. Docherty
2. FBI Affidavit of Terry Getsch — Case No. 25-mj-376-JFD, Doc. 1-1 — 20 pages — Filed June 15, 2025 under seal — Full operational narrative, all physical evidence descriptions, all surveillance photographs included as exhibits
3. Plea Agreement and Sentencing Stipulations — United States v. Vance Luther Boelter — Case No. 25-272 (JRT/DJF), Doc. 47 — Filed June 11, 2026 — 21 pages — Guilty plea to all 6 counts — Signed: Daniel N. Rosen (U.S. Attorney), Vance Luther Boelter (Defendant), Manny K. Atwal / Kimberly L. Sharkey / Ryan N. Norwood (Defense Counsel) — Joint sentencing recommendation: Two consecutive life terms + 480 months
4. State of Minnesota Criminal Complaint — Warrant — Court File No. 27-CR-25-14999 — Hennepin County District Court, 4th Judicial District — Filed June 14, 2025 — Four counts of Murder 2nd Degree — Complainant: SA Rachel Nelson — Prosecuting Attorney: Patrick Lofton (Asst. County Attorney) — Bail: $5,000,000