Vance Boelter given life sentence for shooting two Minnesota lawmakers
· UPIJuly 23 (UPI) -- The man who shot two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses was sentenced to life in prison during a sentencing hearing Thursday.
Vance Boelter received two consecutive life sentences, with another 40 years on top, to be served consecutively for fatally shooting Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and shooting and injuring state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, USA Today and CBS News reported.
Judge John Tunheim handed down the sentence weeks after Boelter pleaded guilty to six charges and confessed to the shootings as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
Tunheim called the sentence "the longest sentence I have imposed after hearing thousands of cases over the years, but it is well deserved" during the hearing.
Boelter was charged with visiting the Hortmans' home in June 2025 dressed as a police officer, where he shot and killed the representative and her husband, as well as their dog, and then hours later visited the Hoffmans' home and shot both of them, as well.
Police arrested him after a 48-hour manhunt and charged him with murder, attempted murder, stalking and related firearms charges.
The Justice Department said after making the plea deal with Boelter that it was unsure if the stalking charge would make him ineligible for the death penalty under federal law.
Boelter still faces state charges for the shootings, although Minnesota does not have the death penalty.