On a somber Friday in late June 2025, the Minnesota Capitol rotunda in St. Paul became the site of a historic and poignant tribute. Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and their golden retriever, Gilbert, lay in state, drawing thousands of mourners who came to pay their respects to a family tragically torn apart in a violent attack that has shaken the state and the nation.
Melissa Hortman, a Democrat and a trailblazing political leader, was the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans to be accorded the rare honor of lying in state at the Capitol. This occasion also marked the first time a couple has been honored together in this way, and uniquely, the first time a dog was included in such a solemn ceremony. Gilbert, the golden retriever, was seriously wounded in the attack and had to be euthanized, making his presence at the rotunda both touching and unprecedented.
The arrangement under the Capitol’s iconic dome was a moving tableau: the caskets of Melissa and Mark Hortman, adorned with flowers and folded U.S. and Minnesota flags, flanked by two pedestals—one holding a floral tribute, the other bearing the golden urn containing Gilbert’s remains. Law enforcement officers stood vigil as an endless stream of mourners filed past, many fighting back tears as they honored the family.
Among the earliest to pay tribute were Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his wife, Gwen. Walz, who called Hortman his closest political ally, expressed deep sorrow over the loss. Later in the afternoon, former President Joe Biden, a Catholic, approached the velvet rope, made the sign of the cross, and spent a few quiet moments in reflection. He then knelt briefly before rising to greet others gathered in the rotunda’s wings. Biden’s presence underscored the gravity of the tragedy and the respect held for Hortman’s service.
Also expected to attend the private funeral on Saturday morning, June 28, 2025, at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, is former Vice President Kamala Harris. Though neither Biden nor Harris is expected to speak, their attendance highlights the national attention this local tragedy has drawn. The funeral will be livestreamed on the Department of Public Safety’s YouTube channel, allowing the broader community to participate in the farewell.
Residents of Brooklyn Park, the suburb where the Hortmans lived, were among the many who came to the Capitol. Lisa Greene, a fellow resident and state representative, spoke emotionally about Hortman’s leadership and accessibility. “She was just amazing. Amazing woman. And I was just so proud that she represented the city that I lived in,” Greene said. “She was such a leader. She could bring people together. She was so accessible. I mean, she was friendly, you could talk to her.” Greene added admiringly, “She just knew what she was doing and she could just make things happen.”
Gilbert’s story added a unique and heart-wrenching dimension to the mourning. The golden retriever had been a beloved member of the family and was present during the attack on June 14, 2025, when a gunman posing as a police officer fatally shot Melissa and Mark Hortman. Gilbert was mortally wounded in the same assault and was later euthanized at Allied Emergency Veterinary Service in Brooklyn Park. The clinic described him as “sweet and gentle” and “deeply loved.”
The Hortmans had been foster caregivers for dogs training to become service animals. Gilbert himself was intended to be an assistance dog but was deemed “too friendly” to qualify, a fact that brought a bittersweet smile to those who knew the family. Helping Paws Inc., a nonprofit service dog training organization, shared a photo of Gilbert and Melissa Hortman smiling together shortly after the shootings, highlighting the bond they shared.
The man accused of orchestrating this devastating attack is 57-year-old Vance Boelter of Green Isle. He surrendered to authorities on the night of June 15, following what has been described as the largest search in Minnesota history. Boelter appeared in court on June 27, 2025, wearing a green padded suicide prevention suit and orange slippers, a stark image that underscored the gravity of the situation.
During the brief court appearance, Boelter told the judge he had not slept in 12 to 14 days but denied any suicidal intentions. His federal defender, Manny Atwal, described the harsh conditions Boelter faced in the Sherburne County Jail, including constant lighting, frequent door slamming, and an adjacent inmate who smeared feces on the cell walls, with the odor permeating Boelter’s cell. The judge agreed to postpone the hearing until July 3, 2025, and ordered Boelter’s transfer to segregation with a standard jail uniform to improve his conditions and communication.
Prosecutors are preparing to secure a grand jury indictment before Boelter’s formal arraignment, at which point he would enter a plea. The federal complaint includes video evidence showing Boelter outside the Hortmans’ home at the time gunfire was heard, as well as security footage of him approaching the homes of two other Democratic lawmakers dressed as a police officer. Authorities say Boelter also wounded Democratic state Senator John Hoffman and his wife at their home in Champlin before killing the Hortmans in Brooklyn Park. Prosecutors allege he visited the homes of two other lawmakers without encountering them and had listed dozens of other Democrats as potential targets.
The charges Boelter faces could carry the federal death penalty, although Minnesota abolished capital punishment in 1911. The state charges against him include murder and attempted murder, which could result in life imprisonment without parole. Friends describe Boelter as an evangelical Christian with politically conservative views, but prosecutors have refrained from speculating publicly on his motive.
This tragic series of events has sent shockwaves through Minnesota and beyond, prompting reflections on political violence and the safety of public officials. The historic lying in state ceremony for the Hortmans and their dog Gilbert stands as a testament to their impact on the community and the profound loss felt by many.
