The defense lawyer for a man accused of killing the top Democratic leader in the Minnesota House and her husband, and wounding another lawmaker and his wife, says he plans to plead not guilty.

A lifelong friend of the alleged Minnesota gunman says Vance Boelter had been struggling to find work and was wrestling with a “darkness that was inside of him” at the time of the shootings.

From a legislator in downtown Minneapolis to a veteran Ohio congresswoman, many lawmakers included in the suspected Minnesota gunman’s writings and list of targets are vowing not to bow down.

His lawyer didn’t say whether mental health defense will be pursued. It’s possible, but the bar is high, legal experts say.

Periods of religious zealotry and an unsettled professional career were intertwined for years before he was accused of murder.

A Minnesota state senator who was shot nine times during an attack in June has been moved to a rehabilitation facility.

Accused Minnesota assassin Vance Boelter breaks silence after political shootings: ‘It didn’t involve... Trump stuff’ - The 57-year-old has been charged with the murder of Democratic State House ...

A grand jury indicted the man accused of shooting two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses on six federal charges ...

The Associated Press identified Vance Luther Boelter, 57, as the suspect. He was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2016 and then by Gov. Walz in 2019 to the nonpartisan workforce development board.

WATCH: Full press conference from Tuesday, July 15 below. The indictment lists murder, stalking and firearms charges against Vance Boelter.

Vance Boelter plans to plead not guilty to charges he killed former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband after wounding Rep. John Hoffman and his wife, his attorney said.