Overview
- U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim on Thursday imposed two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years after Boelter pleaded guilty in June to six federal counts including murder, stalking, and firearms offenses.
- Federal prosecutors presented evidence that Boelter stalked and researched multiple Democratic lawmakers, used a police impersonation to attack homes, and hoped to shift the balance of power in the Minnesota Legislature.
- Boelter’s June plea was part of a deal that avoided the death penalty, a choice that prompted public anger from some family members who said they were denied a full trial.
- Survivors and relatives described lasting physical and emotional harm from the June 14, 2025 attacks, including life-changing injuries for Sen. John Hoffman and his wife and the deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman.
- With the federal case concluded, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has said state criminal proceedings and related civil suits will proceed in local court, where convictions could carry life-without-parole penalties.