UPDATE 4:15pm June 4th
The Wisconsin Department of Justice updated their investigation into the targeted hit on retired Juneau County Judge John Roemer Friday.
In a press release, DOJ says Juneau County Sheriff’s Office recieved a call just after 6:30am Friday reporting shots fired in a neighborhood house. DOJ says that upon arrival they attemped to negotiate with 56 year old Douglas K. Uhde. Uhde is being identified as the shooter in the case.
Around 10:20 am, officers entered the residence and located 68 year old and retired Judge John Roemer deceased after he was found ziptied to a chair.Â
Uhde was later located in the basement with an single self-inflicted gunshot wound. Life-saving measures were taken and Uhde was taken to a medical facility where he remains in critical condition.
Along with a firearm, a hit list was recovered as well in the suspects vehicle which included Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers along with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has not confirmed these reports that Uhde may have been targeting other high-ranking officials, but Governor Evers spoke Saturday about the incident calling the situation “abhorent,” while a spokesperson for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer confirmed to the Associated Press that she was among the names on Uhde’s list.
This incident appears to be a targeted act according to DOJ, but there is no immediate danger to the public.
Court records show Uhde was sentenced to six years in state prison and nine years of extended supervision by Judge Roemer in November 2005 on charges of armed burglary with a dangerous weapon in a case that was originally filed in August of 2001.
More details will be released by the Department of Justice as it becomes avaliable
UPDATE 12:30pm June 4th
Sources close to the investigation into the apparent targeted hit on retired Juneau County Judge John Roemer Friday say the victim was found zip tied and shot to death in his home.
WTMJ’s John Mercure first reported Friday afternoon that the 56-year-old suspect was a member of a militia and had a hit list that included the names of elected officials including Governor Tony Evers. During a press briefing Friday, Attorney General Josh Kaul confirmed the shooting was a targeted act but did not provide the names of the victim or the suspect.
“We believe this was a targeted incident,” Kaul said. “Because it’s an ongoing investigation we’re not going to go into the details of the information that’s available but so far the information that’s been gathered indicates it was a targeted and that the targeting was based on some sort of court case or court cases.”
A spokesperson for the Governor’s Office, when asked about the possible threat, said they don’t comment on specific threats or the governor’s security detail.
According to a news release from the Department of Justice, police responded to the home owned by Roemer around 6:30 Friday morning after receiving a call of shots fired inside the home. The DOJ says attempts to negotiate with the suspect were unsuccessful and when law enforcement entered the home they found the victim shot to death and the suspect suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the basement. The suspect was taken to the hospital where he remains in unknown condition.
The state Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation. The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, Mauston Police Department, Elroy Police Department, Wisconsin State Crime Lab, Wisconsin State Patrol, DOJ’s Office of Crime Victim Services and the FBI are also assisting.
ORIGINAL POST
MAUSTON- A judicially motivated hit carried out at the home of a former Judge in Juneau County.
Dozens of law enforcement vehicles descended on the home of former Juneau County Judge John Roemer Friday morning after a shooting was reported.
A source close to the investigation tells WTMJ’s John Mercure the 56-year-old suspect was part of a militia and he had with him a hit list that included the names of several elected officials including Governor Tony Evers.
When asked if they were notified of the apparent threat, the Governor’s Office said they do not comment on specific threats or the governor’s security detail.
Attorney General Josh Kaul says the Department of Justice received a call around 6:30 this morning notifying law enforcement of an armed person and two shots fired inside of a home in the Township of New Lisbon. The caller had exited the home and contacted police from a nearby home.
Following a failed attempt to negotiate with a person inside the home, the Juneau County Special Tactics and Response Team entered the residence and located the homeowner, a 68 year old man deceased. A 56 year old man, identified as the suspect, was located in the basement with an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. He was alive and has since been transported to a hospital.
“We believe this was a targeted incident,” Kaul said. “Because it’s an ongoing investigation we’re not going to go into the details of the information that’s available but so far the information that’s been gathered indicates it was a targeted and that the targeting was based on some sort of court case or court cases.”
The Attorney General said they have no reason to believe there’s an ongoing threat to the public.
