Minnesota Assassin Vance Boelter Faces Federal Murder Charges After Lawmakers' Killing

Vance Boelter, accused of a deadly ambush attack on Minnesota Democratic lawmakers and their spouses, faces multiple federal and state charges including murder, attempted murder, stalking, and firearms offenses, with the death penalty possible under federal law despite Minnesota abolishing capital punishment. Boelter, who disguised himself as a police officer and used a police-style vehicle, allegedly killed former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife; he also killed the Hortman family's rescue dog. Authorities recovered a target list from Boelter's vehicle containing names of numerous Minnesota Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz and U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, indicating premeditation. State charges initially filed were second-degree murder due to procedural rules requiring grand jury indictments for first-degree murder, but federal prosecutors have filed first-degree murder and other charges, signaling a pursuit of harsher penalties. Following a 43-hour manhunt, Boelter was arrested without incident, and prosecutors emphasized building their case on facts amid warnings against conspiracy theories. The attack has been described as meticulously planned, with Boelter conducting surveillance on his victims and outfitting his vehicle with police lights and a license plate, underscoring the chilling nature of the assault.