It was just over a year ago — in June, 2025 — that a deranged gunman shot and killed former Speaker of the Minnesota House Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband Mark in their Brooklyn Park home. He followed that savagery by going on to shoot and injure Democrat State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Their golden retriever was severely injured in the attack and had to be put down.
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The details of the assaults were chilling: 58-year-old Vance Boelter, a serial job changer, disguised himself as a law enforcement officer and wore a “hyper realistic” silicone face mask, a tactical vest, and body armor on the night of the shootings.
As we reported, he agreed to plead guilty in June to the murders and related charges (stalking and firearms offenses) in exchange for the death penalty to be taken off the table.
On Thursday, judgment came a-callin’, and it was very, very bad for Boelter:
Although the media at first tried to lay the blame for the horrible crime on right-wingers, they soon piped down when details of his ramblings were released, and he was shown to be a political fanatic with views all over the map.
🚨 JUST IN: Tim Walz appointee Vance Boelter has been sentenced to TWO LIFE SENTENCES plus 40 years for the murder of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman
Boelter’s vehicle was found with “NO KINGS” flyers on the seat, and kiIIed Hortman and her husband soon after she… pic.twitter.com/L4ezfLz6nV
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 23, 2026
🚨 JUST IN: Tim Walz appointee Vance Boelter has been sentenced to TWO LIFE SENTENCES plus 40 years for the murder of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman
Boelter’s vehicle was found with “NO KINGS” flyers on the seat, and kiIIed Hortman and her husband soon after she voted against healthcare for illegals
- Will Walz pardon this guy too?
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“Will Walz pardon this guy too?” writes independent journalist Nick Sortor in the above tweet. He’s presumably referring to Gov. Jazz Hands’ June pardon of admitted child sex abuser Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national. Secretary of State Marco Rubio promptly entered the chat on July 10, terminated Vang’s legal status in the country, and sent him back to Laos.
MORE: Minnesota Assassin Changes Plea in Lawmaker Shooting Case, Will Never Taste Freedom Again
Sec. Rubio’s assistance is not needed in this case, because Boelter’s going to be staring at concrete walls for the rest of his days:
In a pre-sentencing filing on Tuesday, prosecutors said, “Justice requires that Boelter never be free again.” Thursday’s sentence carries no possibility of parole.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office previously said it plans to move forward with state charges against Boelter: 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.
And his legal troubles don’t even stop there: the Hoffman family is suing the murderer, accusing him of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence.
Although we can all be glad that we’ll never have to see Vance Boelter again, and no family will ever again experience his barbarism, it sadly won’t bring the victims back. The pain caused by this animal unfortunately will still endure.
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Sophie and Colin Hortman, children to Melissa and Mark, told the court the pain they experienced after Boelter killed their parents is unforgettable.
“What I cared about is my entire life had been shattered in 30 seconds,” Sophie Hortman said. “My parents were dead. The dog had been shot multiple times. My brother was wrecked.”
Colin Hortman said he lives with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“If I had a wish, it is when the defendant’s life ends, his body is carried out of federal prison in one of those body bags he intended for my family,” Yvette Hoffman said in court Thursday.
https://t.co/RMSnsjp7OQ— WCCO | CBS News Minnesota (@WCCO) July 23, 2026
Say a prayer tonight for the Hortman and Hoffman families.
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