Vance Boelter changes federal plea to guilty in lawmaker shootings

Vance Boelter pleaded guilty to the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses on Thursday as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors.

At a 10 a.m. hearing, Boelter pleaded guilty to six counts against him. Under the terms of the plea deal, Boelter’s recommended sentence will be two consecutive terms of life imprisonment followed by 40 years. The judge approved the plea deal and ordered an expedited sentencing, hoping to have it scheduled before the end of July. Boelter’s final sentence is up to the court, but the judge indicated the court is likely to accept the recommendation.

Boelter, 58, previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of stalking, two counts of murder and two counts of firearms violations in the June 14, 2025, shootings that killed former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Justice said it would not seek the death penalty against Boelter, which, according to Wednesday’s letter, is part of a proposed plea agreement.

“The Attorney General has authorized and directed the government not to seek the death penalty against Defendant Vance Luther Boelter in accordance with the terms delineated in a proposed plea agreement,” the letter reads, in part.

Officials from Rosen’s office and other federal law enforcement officers will hold a press conference after the change of plea hearing Thursday.

• What: Press conference after Boelter’s hearing.
• When: 11:30 a.m. on Thursday.
• Who: Rosen, FBI and other federal and local law enforcement partners.
• How to watch: You can watch live in the player above, on CBS News Minnesota and on YouTube.

Boelter also faces state charges, including two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count each of felony cruelty to an animal and impersonating an officer. A guilty verdict for one of the first-degree murder charges carries a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

The Hoffman family has filed a lawsuit against Boelter accusing him of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and negligence per se, according to the civil complaint.

John and Yvette Hoffman appeared at Boelter’s Thursday hearing, along with Melissa and Mark Hortman’s children Sophie and Colin.