Minnesota Assassination Suspect Indicted on First-Degree Murder Charges

When a gunman disguised as a police officer shot two Minnesota legislators and their spouses two months ago, it set off the largest manhunt in the state’s history and left public officials across the country worried about their safety.

In the weeks since, both federal and state prosecutors have filed charges and released new details about what they said led to the shootings. And on Thursday, a Minnesota grand jury indicted the suspect on state charges of first-degree murder.

State Representative Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband, Mark, were killed, and another Democratic lawmaker and his wife were wounded in the attacks.

The suspect, Vance Boelter, had previously been charged in state court with second-degree murder, a charge that prosecutors were able to issue without empaneling a grand jury. The more serious first-degree murder charge, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison, required grand jurors to issue an indictment.

It is not clear when Mr. Boelter might appear in court on those state charges. He is already facing murder charges in federal court and could face the death penalty if convicted. He pleaded not guilty to those charges last week. In addition to the deaths of the Hortmans, Mr. Boelter is accused of shooting and wounding State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, before dawn on June 14.

Before the state indictment, the prosecutor’s office in Hennepin County released a statement saying that “our preference would be to proceed with our prosecution immediately” but that “the U.S. attorney’s office has the legal authority to determine the order in which Mr. Boelter is prosecuted.” Minnesota does not have the death penalty for state crimes.