Vance Boelter, 58, pleaded guilty Thursday to killing Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman. He admitted to months of planning and targeting elected officials.
On June 14, 2025, Boelter wore tactical gear and parked a police-style SUV with flashing lights in the Hortmans’ driveway. He rang the doorbell and shouted, “Police, welfare check.”
Mark Hortman answered. Boelter gave a fake name and badge number before shooting him multiple times and entering the home.
He then shot Melissa Hortman repeatedly as she fled upstairs. Both died. The family’s golden retriever was gravely injured and later euthanized.
Earlier that night, Boelter shot and critically injured state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman. He also stopped at the homes of two other lawmakers before leaving when a police officer approached him.
Boelter agreed to two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years in exchange for federal prosecutors dropping the death penalty. He still faces state murder and attempted murder charges, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said the federal plea does not affect that case.
Minnesota Lawmaker Killings Spark Reaction Over Golden Retriever’s Death
The details surrounding the attack continued to draw attention online, particularly the fate of the Hortmans’ family pet.
One user wrote, “He also killed their golden retriever.” Another added, “Even worse the article said that the retriever didn’t die quickly. It was left with critical injuries that led them to euthanizing it rather than letting it continue to suffer.”
Others said the revelation changed how they viewed the case. One response stated, “It got more coverage once it was announced that their dog was killed, too.” Another wrote, “We will never forget Gilbert. He was a good boy.”
Not every reaction focused on the dog. One user commented, “Almost no news coverage…. I subscribe to so many sources, and not a single banner on my phone popping up for this story.” A separate response pushed back, stating, “No, it got coverage.”
Boelter still faces state murder and attempted murder charges, which remain pending in Hennepin County despite his federal plea agreement. For the victims’ families and the communities affected by the shootings, the legal process is not yet over, with additional proceedings still to come in state court.
