Former Judge Found Zip-Tied to Chair and Executed, Authorities Suspect He Was Part of Larger 'Hit List'
A retired Wisconsin judge was found shot to death in his home Friday, and the suspect in the shooting had what authorities are calling a hit list of other government officials.
Former Juneau County Judge John Roemer was zip-tied to a chair and fatally shot, police said.
The Department of Justice said the suspected killer, identified as Douglas Uhde, was found in the basement of the house, suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to WISN-TV.
“So far, the information that’s been gathered indicates that it was a targeted act, and the targeting appears to be based on some sort of court case or court cases,” Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said, according to The Washington Post.
The Post report that in 2005 Roemer sentenced Uhde to six years in prison for a burglary charge.
Former Judge John Roemer was found fatally shot in his New Lisbon, Wisconsin home. Douglas Uhde was identified as the suspect. https://t.co/sjiCXvdPUq
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) June 5, 2022
A report in Politico said Uhde’s criminal and prison record goes back almost 20 years, and that he was last released from prison in 2020.
Sen. Mitch McConnell and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer were on “hit list” of Wisconsin gunman who killed a judge, cops say.
After a four-hour standoff, officers found gunman Douglas Uhde suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.https://t.co/tOwupTRCts
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) June 4, 2022
Uhde, 56, is in critical condition, Kaul said.
WISN cited an unnamed law enforcement official who said a “hit list” was found in Uhde’s vehicle that named Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Kaul said that at about 6:30 a.m. on Friday, the Juneau County Sheriff’s Office received a call about an armed man who had fired two shots inside a home.
The caller had fled the house and was calling from a nearby residence.
Police responded, and entered the house at 10:17 a.m. after efforts to negotiate with the gunman inside failed.
Neighbor Donna Voss told The Associated Press that she heard law enforcement on a loudspeaker trying to get the gunman to surrender.
“It’s unbelievable and really freaky,” she said.
Roemer’s son may have been a witness, WISN reported.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler released a statement on Roemer’s death:
“The state’s judicial family is shocked and saddened by this tragedy. Judge Roemer dedicated much of his career to public service in the law. Before taking the bench in 2004, he had served as an assistant district attorney and as an assistant state public defender. He was known by colleagues for his sharp legal mind and his willingness to share his time and knowledge with others. His work made a tremendous difference in the lives of many people in Juneau County and elsewhere in the state. Our deepest sympathy goes to Judge Roemer’s family at this time,” the statement said.
The investigation is being handled as a homicide and a possible case of domestic terrorism.
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