Justice Department charges alleged assassin in Minnesota lawmaker shootings with murder

The Department of Justice on Monday filed charges against the alleged assassin in the Minnesota shooting of two lawmakers and their spouses, which include six counts of murder, stalking, and firearms offenses.

Vance Luther Boelter, 57, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the shooting death of Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a former House speaker, and her husband at their Brooklyn Park home on Saturday morning. He also allegedly shot Democratic State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who were wounded at their home in Champlin.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson on Monday announced the federal charges that were filed against Boelter during a press conference on Monday, CNN reported.

Boelter faces two counts of murder with a firearm, one for each of the Hortmans; two counts of stalking using interstate commerce regarding the Hortmans; and two firearms offenses in the shooting of the Hortmans. The murder charges include the death penalty as the maximum sentence if prosecutors pursue it, and if Boelter is convicted.

Thompson said that it is “too early to tell” whether his office will seek the death penalty.

The Hennepin County District Court previously said that it has issued a criminal complaint charging Boelter with two counts of second-degree murder with intent and two accounts of attempted murder.