Justice Department Drops Death Penalty Bid for Vance Boelter in 2 Minnesota Killings
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 8
Justice Department Drops Death Penalty Bid for Vance Boelter in 2 Minnesota Killings
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 8
Summary
Federal prosecutors said Monday they will not seek the death penalty against Vance Boelter, who is accused of assassinating Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and killing her husband, Mark, in a politically motivated attack.
Justice Department officials said they concluded the underlying stalking charges likely do not qualify him for capital punishment, even though federal law can allow death-penalty cases when a firearm killing stems from a violent crime.
Boelter faces both federal and state charges in the shootings; Minnesota does not have a death penalty, though federal prosecutors had previously left that option open.
The decision narrows the case to noncapital prosecution while preserving the broader homicide charges in a high-profile attack on an elected official.