Minnesota lawmaker shootings: Vance Boelter will not face death penalty
Minnesota lawmaker shootings: Vance Boelter background
FOX 9's Mary McGuire looked into the background of Vance Boelter, the suspected shooter of two lawmakers and their spouses last Saturday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - FOX 9 has learned the Department of Justice will not seek the death penalty against Vance Boelter, the man accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, after prosecutors determined the crimes he faced were not eligible under federal law.
Vance Boelter will not face death penalty
The backstory:
Boelter is accused of shooting House Speaker Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman in their Brooklyn Park home, as well as shooting Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman in their Champlin home on June 14, 2025. Prosecutors also allege that same morning he stopped at the Maple Grove home of Rep. Kristin Bahner while she and her family were out of town, then later drove to the New Hope home of Sen. Ann Rest, and left the scene after encountering an officer who was conducting a welfare check.
A federal grand jury indicted Boelter on six counts related to the attacks of the Hortmans and Hoffmans, including stalking, murder and firearms charges. Federal prosecutors were deciding whether to pursue the death penalty in the case. However, sources tell FOX 9 that ultimately prosecutors determined that the crimes Boelter faced were not eligible for the death penalty under federal law.
What they're saying:
"Bringing justice to the families and loved ones of victims of violence is the number one priority of the Department of Justice," a DOJ spokesperson said in a statement. "Prosecutors worked hard on this case to make sure he was held accountable to the fullest extent possible."
Dig deeper:
In state court, a grand jury indicted Boelter in August 2025 on multiple charges, including first-degree premeditated murder in the deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman and attempted first-degree murder in the shootings of John Hoffman, Yvette Hoffman and Hope Hoffman.
The indictment also includes attempted first-degree murder of Rep. Kristin Bahner, felony animal cruelty related to the death of the Hortmans' dog, Gilbert, and impersonating a police officer.
The Source: This story uses previous FOX 9 reporting and information from the DOJ.