Minnesota gunman gets 2 life terms plus 40 years for lawmaker killing
Why it matters: The attack killed former House Democratic leader Melissa Hortman and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and their spouses.
A Minnesota man who killed a leading Democratic state lawmaker and her husband and wounded another lawmaker and his wife was sentenced July 23 to two consecutive life terms plus 40 years in federal prison. Vance Boelter pleaded guilty in June to six counts, including murder, in a deal that spared him a possible death sentence. Prosecutors said Boelter posed as a police officer, wore a silicone mask and used an SUV with a “Police” license plate during the June 14, 2025 attacks. He fatally shot Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, at their home and earlier shot and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman. Authorities later found a list of more than 45 Minnesota officials in his car.