A Minnesota man who posed as a police officer and knocked on lawmakers' doors in the middle of the night, killing the top Democrat in the state House and her husband and wounding a state senator and his wife, pleaded guilty to murder on Thursday so that federal prosecutors would not seek the death penalty.

Vance Boelter changes plea in murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman as prosecutors agree not to pursue death penalty

The man charged in the political assassinations of the top Democrat in the Minnesota house and her husband, as well as the non-fatal shootings of a state senator and his wife, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday after prosecutors said they would not seek the death penalty.

Vance Boelter was charged with murdering Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota house speaker, and her husband, Mark Hortman, and with shooting state senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman. Boelter came to their doors in the early hours of 14 June 2025, disguised as a police officer and driving a fake squad car.

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© Photograph: Steven Garcia/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Steven Garcia/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Steven Garcia/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

The man accused of killing the former Minnesota state House Speaker will not face the death penalty under the terms of a proposed plea agreement, according to U.S. attorneys prosecuting the case. On Thursday, Vance Boelter pleaded guilty to all federal charges related to the June shooting and signed a plea deal that will render…

The man accused of killing the former Minnesota state House Speaker will not face the death penalty under the terms of a proposed plea agreement, according to U.S. attorneys prosecuting the case. On Thursday, Vance Boelter pleaded guilty to all federal charges related to the June shooting and signed a plea deal that will render…

U.S. prosecutors said Wednesday they will not seek the death penalty as part of a plea agreement with the man charged in the political assassinations of the top Democrat in the Minnesota House along with her husband, as well as the attempted murders of a state senator and his wife.