Man gets life for killing Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman

newsJul 23, 202618717

Vance Boelter, 59, was sentenced Thursday to two consecutive life terms plus 40 years after pleading guilty in June to politically motivated killings and shootings that left former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, dead and critically wounded state senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Court documents and prosecutors say Boelter spent months identifying and stalking targets, then on 14 June 2025 around 3:30 a.m. he went to the Hortmans' home in a tactical uniform and mask, rang the doorbell claiming to be a police officer, gave a fake name and badge number, shot Mark multiple times, pushed inside and shot Melissa as she fled upstairs. Boelter admitted the attacks in court to avoid the death penalty and agreed to the maximum punishment short of execution. Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman described lasting physical injuries and trauma, with Hoffman saying Boelter looked him in the eyes and pulled the trigger and Yvette saying she has been too traumatized to work and sees a therapist weekly. Family members of Mark Hortman expressed anger that Boelter will not face the death penalty and criticized the justice system. Authorities say the assaults triggered the largest police search in Minnesota history.

Caroleeena

@caroleeena.bsky.social

The next time Tom Homan tells people to "just comply" with people dressed as police, remember that House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot, by a man dressed as a cop who was not a cop.

25545d ago

rabagast2

15 years ago yesterday we had a massacre in my country where 77 people were murdered by a man dressed up as police.

Colonel Ripper2

Plus, the FOP endorsed a felon for the president of the United States. So, there's that.

Don't Wash Your Pits in the River of Sacred Tears1

and lots of psychos dressing up as ICE, both who work for it and don't. It's true.

Quoting this

MC_Lovecraft3

Also, and I think this is important to remember, the real cops will kill you too.

PBS News

@pbsnews.org

The man who killed Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman was sentenced to life in prison Thursday. Vance Boelter pleaded guilty last month to killing the Democratic lawmaker and her husband, as well as critically wounding another state senator, John Hoffman, and his wife.

9745d ago

PBS News36

That plea allowed him to avoid the death penalty. Instead, he was given two life terms, plus an additional 40 years — the longest sentence the judge on the case says he has ever handed down. Boelter also faces state charges of murder and attempted murder, as well as a personal injury lawsuit.

coupon for poupon1

Has he also been charged for murdering Gilbert, the Hortman's Golden Retriever?

jim-selover.bsky.social1

Please tell me they are state charges so Trump can't pardon the guy and add him to his cabinet. 😟

Guintiger1

And their dog - don't forget that this piece of crap masquerading as a human being also shot and killed the family pet.

Quoting this

Lisa Lin Doh4

And not eligible for a Presidential pardon. So there's that.

Ken Martin

@kenmartin.bsky.social

Today, the murderer of Melissa and Mark Hortman was sentenced to life in prison. Nothing can undo the pain we've felt in Minnesota over the last year. Like many, I miss my dear friends every day. But the legacy they left and their mission to build a kinder world will live on.

8445d ago

Quoting this

Grandma Janet5

Minnesota's hearth was stabbed hard and sooo many times in a year it will be hard to believe in 10 years that it was true. 😭😭😭

Amee Vanderpool

@girlsreallyrule.bsky.social

A federal judge sentenced Vance Boelter to two life sentences plus 40 years w/no parole for murdering former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the attacks on State Sen. John Hoffman, his wife Yvette and their daughter Hope. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

7545d ago

Bob

@psychobob4q2.bsky.social

Now how about the murderers of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota??? www.ms.now/news/killer-...

3645d ago

Dovewoman 💙 🇺🇦 💙

@dovewoman.bsky.social

The Maga killer got 2 life sentences plus 40 years… Melissa Hortman, her husband & their dog are still dead.

2745d ago

Newtown Action Alliance

@newtownaction.org

Today, the man who assassinated Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and their dog Gilbert was sentenced. In June of 2025, House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and their dog Gilbert were assassinated.

2345d ago

🦋🕊️🦋GinLy47

@ginly47.bsky.social

Vance Boelter, the man who assassinated Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and shot Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, just got sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years. He will die in prison. meidasnews.com/news/man-who...

1845d ago

Pam Spaulding

@pamspaulding.bsky.social

"The defendant looked me in the eyes & pulled the trigger. The defendant looked at my wife & chose to do the same." —Sen. John Hoffman, critically injured victim of Vance Boelter. Boelter rec'd 2 life terms plus 40 years. He executed Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark & their dog. 🧾 t2m.co/AE0Vp4z6

1445d ago

M Meerkat

@kackbro.bsky.social

Vance Boelter,59 Was Sentenced To Two Life Sentences For The Murders Of House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Her Husband Mark, And The Shootings Of State Senator John Hoffman And His Wife,Yvette,And The Killing of the Hortman's Dog,Gilbert.......

1845d ago

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Mhairi Forrest🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🤟🤟🤟

@mhairiforrest.bsky.social

The murderer of Melissa Hortman & her husband was a follower of the New Apostolic Reformation, the Christian sect that played a critical part in the lead up to Jan 6 & the spread of the Big Lie about the 2020 election. THAT info shd always be part of the discussion about how this man was radicalized

1445d ago

SassySenora701

@sassysenior70.bsky.social

This is MAGA terrorist Vance Boelter. He was arrested, charged, tried, and convicted of the murders of Democrat Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. Today he was sentenced to 2 consecutive life sentences with NO parole, plus 40 years. Justice was served. 23 July 2026

1045d ago

The Trace

@thetrace.org

The man who killed Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband and injured State Senator John Hoffman and his wife has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, plus 40 years. The sentence is part of the shooter's plea deal to avoid the death penalty.

1045d ago

Lauren Ashley Davis

@laurenmeidasa.bsky.social

Vance Boelter, the man who dressed up like a police officer and killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark last summer, was given two life sentences followed by 40 years in prison by a federal judge Thursday. www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

1145d ago

The Captain

@thoreau.bsky.social

Today: DOJ withdrew subpoenas of NYT reporters & fam DOJ withdrew request for Jews employed by UPenn DOJ lost its 17th case in a row demanding voter rolls Melissa Hortman & husband’s assassin got double life sentences + 40yrs We’re winning more and more each week. Trump has failed.

1145d ago

Denis1

Heard about the NYT subpoenas tossed! Department of F'ing Justice. BTW: Love that the BBC Defamation case has got to where Discovery must include financial records from all of the Trump Companies. Claim financial harm, ok prove it. Comrade Oranginov's lawyers are back-pedaling fast.

Meg1

This is good news. Don’t get complacent. It isn’t over until that fat fuck and his sycophants are made null and void, either by Dems taking over Congress and/or impeachment. KEEP UP THE PRESSURE 🔥

Flying None1

This is great news. The Save Act is still out there though..

3 sources

axios.comMelissa and Mark Hortman's killer gets consecutive life sentences theguardian.comMinnesota man sentenced to life for killing Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman lightnews.appLawmaker's killer sentenced to life

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Man gets life for killing Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman

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