Minnesota Lawmaker Shooting Suspect Vance Boelter Asks for Jail Accommodations
A man accused of a shocking double homicide targeting Minnesota lawmakers appeared in court on Thursday, requesting adjustments to his jail conditions as he awaits further legal proceedings. Vance Luther Boelter, 57, requested a cell without 24-hour lighting and access to a pencil for note-taking. While it remains unclear if these requests will be granted, the judge indicated the jail would address them.
Boelter is accused of a calculated and brutal attack on June 14th, allegedly dressing as a police officer to shoot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their Champlin home around 2:00 a.m. He is then accused of continuing to Brooklyn Park, where he fatally shot former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at 3:30 a.m. Authorities allege Boelter drove an SUV equipped with flashing emergency lights and a license plate bearing the word “police.”
Suspect Waives Hearings, Expresses Desire for Transparency
Boelter appeared in court on Thursday clad in a yellow Sherburne County Jail uniform, complete with orange slippers, and carrying a manila envelope. His public defender confirmed that the prosecution is prepared to share evidence – a process known as discovery – and both sides agreed to proceed with a planned detention hearing.
However, Boelter ultimately waived his right to both preliminary and detention hearings. When asked about waiving the federal preliminary hearing, he stated, “I’m looking forward to court and looking for the facts of what happened on the 14th to come out for you and the public…”
Motive Described as Intent to “Murder People”
U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson has characterized Boelter’s alleged motive as a deliberate intent to inflict harm. According to Thompson, Boelter’s primary goal was “to go out and murder people,” a statement made following a two-day manhunt that culminated in the suspect’s arrest in June 2025.
Boelter is currently facing a multitude of charges. These include two counts of stalking, two counts of murder, and two counts of firearm-related crimes in federal court. He is also charged with second-degree murder at the state level.
The case will now be presented to a grand jury, which has 30 days from Boelter’s June 15th arrest to issue an indictment. A future court date has not yet been scheduled.
