Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that they will not seek the death penalty against Vance Boelter, the man charged with the assassination of Minnesota House Democratic leader Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as part of a plea agreement. Boelter, 58, is also accused of attempting to murder state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, during a series of targeted attacks on June 14, 2025.
The attacks occurred in the early morning hours when Boelter, disguised as a police officer and driving a fake squad car, went to the victims' homes and opened fire. The plea deal, which requires approval from the court, was disclosed in a letter from assistant U.S.
attorneys Bradley M. Endicott and Matthew D.
Forbes, stating that the Attorney General authorized the government to forgo capital punishment under the terms of the proposed agreement. Boelter is scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing Thursday morning in federal court in Minneapolis.
He was captured near his home in rural Green Isle the day after the shootings, following what prosecutors described as the largest manhunt in Minnesota history. Boelter faces both federal and state charges, including murder, attempted murder, and related offenses.
His attorneys have not yet commented on the development. The case has drawn national attention due to the high-profile nature of the victims and the political implications of the attacks.