A former Wisconsin county judge was fatally shot in his New Lisbon home on Friday, according to reports.
Former Juneau County Circuit Court Judge John Roemer, 68, was killed in a “targeted attack” on the judicial system, the Department of Justice explained in a statement.
“Judge Roemer dedicated much of his career to public service in the law,” Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler said in a statement. “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.”
The incident occurred at around 6:30 am when the Juneau County Sheriff’s Office received a call from someone nearby who saw an armed person and heard gunshots fired in John Roemer’s residence.
After failed attempts to negotiate with the gunman, the Juneau County Special Tactics and Response decided to enter the residence and found Roemer zip-tied to a chair.
Police also found the suspect, a 56-year-old male, hiding in the basement with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby medical facility.
“This incident appears to be a targeted act. There is no immediate danger to the public. Names of the involved individuals are being withheld until family notifications are complete,” the DOJ said in a statement.
The station claimed that a “hit list” was found in the gunman’s vehicle, which included the names of Governor Tony Evers, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said that the suspect had selected targets who were “part of the judicial system.”
“The information that’s been gathered indicated that it was a targeted act and that the targeting was based on some sort of court case or court cases,” Kaul said.
The Wisconsin DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation into the murder, along with 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.
The gunman is said to be alive but in critical condition and no further information regarding his identity has been provided.
