A federal judge has scheduled the sentencing date for the man facing charges for assassinating Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband last summer.
Vance Boelter will be sentenced on July 23, over one year after he allegedly fatally shot the Hortmans. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim will preside over the sentencing proceeding at the federal courthouse in Minneapolis.
The defendant is expected to serve two consecutive life terms followed by 40 years in prison based on a plea deal. Tunheim approved the plea deal and expedited the sentencing.
Boelter pleaded guilty earlier this month after federal prosecutors said they would not pursue the death penalty in the case and was indicted on six federal charges, including stalking and murder through the use of a firearm, last year. He previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In his latest plea, Boelter admitted to killing the Hortmans, wounding Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, and attempting to shoot the latter couple’s daughter on June 14, 2025. The Hoffmans were hospitalized for roughly six weeks due to serious injuries, but they ultimately survived. Both lawmakers targeted by the gunman were Democrats.
After Boelter made his guilty plea, the Hoffman family said, “There is no justice when our family and our state will never truly heal.”
The Hoffmans are suing Boelter for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The civil lawsuit states their adult daughter, Hope, suspended her education because of the emotional trauma she experienced during the attack. Hope was at her parents’ home at the time and called 911.
MAN CHARGED WITH ASSASSINATING TOP MINNESOTA DEMOCRAT PLEADS GUILTY
Federal and state authorities arrested Boelter following a 43-hour manhunt in response to the shootings.
The suspect also faces multiple state charges, including two counts of first-degree premeditated murder and four counts of attempted first-degree murder. If convicted on any of the first-degree murder charges, he could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The state case is moving forward despite his federal guilty plea.