Vance Boelter appeared in state court to face state charges for last year’s attacks on Minnesota lawmakers that killed Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband.
This comes just 11 days after Boelter was sentenced to life in prison on federal charges.
Boelter appeared Monday morning at Hennepin County Public Safety Center in his first appearance. He did not enter a plea.
“While Mr. Boelter’s case has been in federal court, we have been preparing to prosecute him in state court,” said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. “That time has arrived and Mr. Boelter will soon face accountability in a Hennepin County courtroom.”
On July 23, Boelter was sentenced in federal court to two consecutive life terms. He also received an additional 40 years.
That came just one month after Boelter changed his plea to guilty in connection with the June 2025 attacks.
He also pleaded guilty to shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, as well as the attempted shooting of their daughter, Hope Hoffman, in a targeted attack in which he posed as a police officer.
Boelter has admitted to the crimes in federal court and pleaded guilty to two stalking charges, two murders through use of a firearm and two federal firearm-shooting offenses.
Under the June agreement though, federal prosecutors took the possibility of the death penalty off the table.
For the state charges, Boelter faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder, felony cruelty to an animal, and impersonating a police officer. Minnesota does not allow the death penalty.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 2.
