Minnesota man accused of fatally shooting state’s former House Speaker and her husband indicted
(NBC, KYMA/KECY) - Vance Boelter, the Minnesota man accused of fatally shooting the state's former House Speaker and her husband, has been indicted on federal murder charges.
DOJ officials said a grand jury has indicted Boelter on six federal charges in connection with the stalking and murders of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, as well as the stalking and shooting of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, and the attempted shooting of their daughter, Hope Hoffman.
U.S. Acting Attorney Joseph Thompson says there are some new details about the shooting including that Boelter allegedly shot at the Hoffman's daughter, and spoke about a letter that was left inside a vehicle authorities believe Boelter abandoned during the manhunt.
Thompson said the letter was addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel, and claimed that the governor instructed him to kill two U.S. senators, although there was no evidence Boelter targeted Minnesota's two U.S. senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.
Thompson called the letter part of an apparent effort by Boelter to excuse his crimes.
It isn't clear if federal authorities will seek the death penalty.
Hope Hoffman released a statement Tuesday, saying she feels relieved that Boelter is being charged "to the fullest extent of the law."
She goes on to write, "Though I was not shot physically, I will now forever coexist with the PTSD of watching my parents be nearly shot dead in front of me and seeing my life flash before my eyes with a gun in my face."
