The man accused of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband has only been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two of attempted murder.
Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested in Ramsey County, Minnesota, on Sunday night over the murders of Dem state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark at their home in Brooklyn early Saturday. He’s also accused of trying to kill Democrat State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvonne.
On Monday morning, it was announced that Hennepin County had charged Boelter with two counts of murder two and attempted murder. It is unclear why he wasn’t immediately charged with first-degree murder given the nature of the Hortmans’ killings, but those charges will likely soon be upgraded.
Four counts of second-degree m*rder, not premeditated.
How on earth do you charge someone with m*rder that is not premeditated if they claim it was by as*as*ination and a manifesto was found in the vehicle? pic.twitter.com/Q3x8hlCNqn
— Sarah Fields (@SarahisCensored) June 16, 2025
And Department of Justice officials are also mulling federal charges against Boelter, a source told CNN Monday morning. If convicted on a federal murder or terrorism charge, Boelter could end up being executed. Minnesota abolished the death penalty for state charges in 1911.
Boelter is accused of posing as a police officer and fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in their home early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs.
Authorities say he also shot Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette. They were injured at their residence about nine miles away.
Boelter crawled to officers in surrender Sunday after they located him in the woods near his home, bringing an end to a massive, nearly two-day search that put the entire state on edge.
He was arrested and booked into Hennepin County custody early Monday on state charges early Monday morning, jail records show.
Investigators recovered a potential hit list featuring ‘names and addresses of other public officials’, including federal lawmakers, in his vehicle.
They also found ‘at least three AK-47 assault rifles’ and a handgun inside the car, which was described as a ‘Ford SUV with police-style lights’.
Although Minnesota was the first US state to abolish the death penalty, Boelter could still face execution over the potential federal charges.
Under federal law second-degree murder does not carry the death penalty, but first-degree murder – which requires premeditation – can be punishable by death or life imprisonment.
