A grand jury indicted the man accused of shooting two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses on six federal charges Tuesday, moving the case forward as prosecutors signal the death penalty is on the table.
Vance Boelter faces murder charges for allegedly assassinating former Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in the early morning hours of June 14.
“The ultimate decision as to whether to seek the death penalty will not come for several months,” acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said at a Tuesday press conference, indicating it will be left up to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Federal prosecutors first unveiled charges against Boelter, 57, in a complaint last month, and the indictment enables the case to press ahead. Thompson said prosecutors were also unsealing a search warrant that provides additional details on the investigation.
Beyond the murder charges, Boelter’s indictment includes two stalking counts over his alleged efforts to track down both the former state speaker and state Sen. John Hoffman (D), whom Boelter allegedly shot and injured the same morning.
Prosecutors additionally indicted him on two firearms offenses, one for each shooting. Those charges all carry up to life in prison, and he separately faces state-level charges.
The Hill has reached out to Boelter’s public defender for comment.
Hoffman’s wife, Yvette, was injured alongside her husband. The indictment indicates Boelter also intended to shoot their daughter, Hope, but failed.
Prosecutors previously accused Boelter of visiting two other officials’ homes and leaving behind a notebook filled with dozens of other names.
