Minnesota killer pleads guilty in federal case, avoiding death penalty with life terms

Vance Boelter pleaded guilty in a Minneapolis federal court to murder, stalking, and firearms offenses tied to the rampage that killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. Under a plea deal approved by the acting U.S. attorney general, Boelter faces two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years, with the death penalty removed. He had disguised himself as a police officer during the shootings and was captured after a 43-hour manhunt; he still faces state murder charges separate from the federal case.