Federal Court Weighs Death Penalty Decision in Case of Alleged Political Assassinations That Shook Minnesota

Minneapolis, MN

Vance Luther Boelter appeared in federal court in Minneapolis on Friday, February 20, 2026, for a status hearing in a case that prosecutors have described as one of the most consequential political violence prosecutions in Minnesota history.

Boelter, 58, has pleaded not guilty to all federal and state charges stemming from the early morning shootings of June 14, 2025. Authorities allege he fatally shot Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, inside their Brooklyn Park home, and critically wounded John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, at their residence in Champlin.

The hearing Friday did not revisit the violence itself. Instead, it centered on two pivotal questions: whether the United States will seek the death penalty, and whether recent resignations within the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office could affect the pace of the prosecution.

A Death Penalty Decision Still Pending

Before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster, federal prosecutors confirmed that the decision on whether to pursue capital punishment remains under review.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Forbes told the court that any determination requires authorization from the U.S. Attorney General under Department of Justice protocol. Prosecutors agreed to provide a definitive update by the next federal status conference, scheduled for April 17, 2026.

If authorized, the case could become one of the rare federal death penalty prosecutions arising from violence against state elected officials.

Concerns Over Prosecution Staffing

Judge Foster also raised concerns about what she described as a recent “mass exodus” from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office. More than a dozen staff members, including lead prosecutor Harry Jacobs, have resigned in recent months, according to court discussions and public reporting.

Federal prosecutors assured the court they remain adequately staffed and prepared to proceed without delay.

On the defense side, federal defender Manny Atwal said her team is reviewing what she characterized as a vast trove of discovery. According to court statements, the government has produced approximately three terabytes of digital evidence, including thousands of surveillance files, body camera recordings, forensic materials, and investigative documents.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for May 2026. No trial date has yet been set.

The June 14 Attacks

Federal and state authorities allege that the violence unfolded in a calculated sequence across multiple cities in the northwest Twin Cities metro.

According to charging documents and public statements from prosecutors, Boelter is accused of disguising himself as a law enforcement officer, wearing body armor and a silicone mask, and using a vehicle modified to resemble a police cruiser.

Timeline of the Alleged Shootings

Champlin, Minnesota
• Sen. John Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman were shot multiple times.
• Prosecutors allege Hoffman was struck nine times and his wife eight times.
• Both survived after emergency medical intervention.

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
• Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman were fatally shot inside their home.
• The couple’s dog, Gilbert, was also shot and later euthanized. State prosecutors have added a felony animal cruelty charge related to the killing.

New Hope, Minnesota
• Rep. Kristin Bahner was allegedly targeted but was not home at the time, according to investigators.

Authorities have described the events as targeted political assassinations. In subsequent searches, investigators reported recovering notebooks containing what they called a “hit list” of approximately 45 state and federal officials, along with multiple firearms and tactical equipment.

Arrest After Largest Manhunt in State History

Following the shootings, law enforcement agencies launched what officials described as the largest manhunt in Minnesota history. The search spanned roughly 40 hours and involved local police departments, state patrol resources, and federal agents.

Boelter was apprehended in a field near his home in Green Isle, Minnesota.

The Charges

Federal Charges

Six counts, including:
• Murder
• Stalking
• Firearms violations

Federal charges carry the possibility of life imprisonment and, if authorized, the death penalty.

State Charges

Filed in Hennepin County, including:
• First-degree premeditated murder
• Four counts of attempted murder
• Impersonating a peace officer
• Felony animal cruelty

Under Minnesota law, first-degree premeditated murder carries a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole upon conviction.

A Case That Reverberates Beyond the Courtroom

The killings of Melissa Hortman and her husband stunned Minnesota’s political community. Hortman, who had served as Speaker of the Minnesota House and later as Speaker Emerita, was widely regarded as one of the state’s most influential Democratic leaders. The shooting of Sen. Hoffman and his wife deepened fears about political violence directed at public servants and their families.

Friday’s hearing was procedural. Yet it underscored the gravity of what lies ahead: a prosecution that will test federal capital punishment policy, the resilience of Minnesota’s justice system, and the broader national conversation about political extremism and violence against elected officials.

For now, the next milestone is April 17, when prosecutors are expected to inform the court whether they will seek the ultimate penalty.

The case moves forward in two court systems at once. And Minnesota continues to wait.

MinneapoliMedia