Prosecutors take death penalty off the table for man charged in Minnesota lawmaker shootings

MINNEAPOLIS (CN) — The Justice Department announced Monday it will not seek the death penalty for the man accused of assassinating Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband last year.

The department said the specific crimes Vance Boelter is accused of are likely ineligible for capital punishment under federal law.

While murder charges are punishable by death or life in prison, the Justice Department cited case law indicating the underlying interstate stalking charges likely do not meet the threshold required for a death sentence.

“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 told Courthouse News in an email. “Prosecutors worked hard on this case to make sure he was held accountable to the fullest extent possible.”

Federal prosecutors may seek the death penalty when a violent crime leads to a murder, though significant debate exists over whether stalking constitutes a violent crime.

Boelter, 58, of Green Isle, pleaded not guilty in August to going to the homes of four Democratic Minnesota legislators in the middle of the night on June 14, 2025, and carrying out shootings while disguised as a police officer.

Security surveillance footage from the shootings shows Melissa Hortman being shot and killed as she tried to flee up her home’s stairs after her husband was killed, according to then-acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson last year.

Boelter is facing six federal charges, including two counts of stalking, murder and firearms violations.

In state court, he faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty and impersonating an officer.

Minnesota has no death penalty for state crimes.

Melissa Hortman, who most recently served an area north of the Twin Cities, was first elected in 2004 and served as speaker of the House in Minnesota from 2019 to January 2025 throughout her 20-year legislative career.

Viewable to passersby touring the Minnesota State Capitol is a memorial display set up at Hortman’s desk in the House chambers, including a large framed portrait and fresh bouquets, predominantly consisting of red roses.

Melissa’s husband, Mark, worked for an electric manufacturing company and has been described as a supportive, enthusiastic husband with a good sense of humor.

“Melissa and Mark Hortman were parents, neighbors and friends,” Hennepin County attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement following the shootings last year. “Their loss is felt deeply by the people who knew and loved them.”

Minnesota state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also injured in the shootings and have since filed a personal injury suit against Boelter in Minnesota state court.

The Hoffmans claim they were shot 17 times by Boelter and spent weeks being treated in the hospital afterward. Their daughter, Hope, narrowly avoided being shot as her parents pushed her out of the line of fire.

Following the shootings, law enforcement recovered materials from Boelter’s car — disguised as a police vehicle — containing the names and addresses of dozens of public officials from the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Law enforcement also recovered five firearms from Boelter’s vehicle, including semiautomatic assault rifles and a large quantity of ammunition.

Both sides of the political aisle condemned the killings, calling for an end to political violence as states across the country jumped to protect lawmakers’ personal information.

The Minnesota House and Senate quickly authorized spending to pay for enhanced residential security systems and local police monitoring at lawmakers’ private residences, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz later issued an executive order installing metal detectors at the Capitol building.

Boelter’s lawyers did not respond to an initial request for comment.