Minnesota Capitol Honors Melissa Hortman and Husband
Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota Democrat, and her husband were honored at the state’s Capitol on Friday, just two weeks after they, along with another couple, were reportedly shot in a politically charged attack. The somber event drew hundreds of mourners who passed through the grand Rotunda of St. Paul, paying their respects to the victims of the tragic incident that occurred on June 14. On the same day, the alleged shooter appeared in federal court wearing a suicide prevention smock.
At 55, Hortman is the first woman to lie in state at the Capitol. Her husband’s floral-adorned casket and Gilbert’s gold urn—one of their rescue dogs who was also a victim—were positioned between law enforcement officers during the ceremony. In a somewhat bittersweet milestone, Gilbert became the first animal to lie in state in the Minnesota Capitol.
The couple was victims of a politically motivated shooting at a home in Brooklyn Park near Minneapolis, which also left another lawmaker and his spouse injured.
Despite being injured during the incident, Gilbert was later euthanized. Authorities conducted an extensive manhunt, ultimately arresting Vance Luther Boerter, the 57-year-old man charged with the murders. Prosecutors have described Boerter as an extremist, alleging he had a hit list that included over 40 state and federal officials, and he reportedly donned a mask during the attack.
Following his arrest, Boerter was brought to court in St. Paul for a hearing that would determine his bail eligibility. His court appearance was marked by a somewhat disheveled look, dressed in a green jumpsuit and the suicide smock, leading his defense to request a postponement for the hearing until July 3.
His lawyers expressed concerns about the conditions of his confinement, noting issues that prevented him from sleeping properly. One of the attorneys relayed that Boerter claimed to have been unable to sleep for 12 to 14 days, stating, “Your honor, I was really not asleep.” He also contended that he had no intention of harming himself.
