According to court records, the victim in the shooting death of a Wisconsin judge and the accused of creating an apparent hitlist targeting prominent politicians was sentenced by the murdered judge to six years imprisonment in 2005.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, John Roemer was a former judge at Juneau County Circuit Court. He was found dead at his residence in New Lisbon Township on Friday morning. According to a senior law enforcement official, Roemer was bound with zip ties.
Douglas K. Uhde (56), was taken to hospital after sustaining an apparent self-inflicted gunshot injury. According to the department, he is still in critical condition.
On Sunday, it was unclear if Uhde retained an attorney.
According to records from the Wisconsin Circuit Court, Roemer sentenced Uhde in 2005 to six years imprisonment for armed burglary using a dangerous weapon. According to records, Uhde pleaded guilty and was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon, possessing short-barreled shotgun rifle, and being a felon.
Wisconsin Gov. According to WTMJ, NBC affiliate in Milwaukee, Tony Evers, possibly one of Uhde’s hit men, called Roemer’s death “abhorrent for our judiciary.”
Evers stated, “It’s just abhorrent that a judge from rural counties is targeted and killed, it’s just as bad as our judiciary and leadership in our state, and our county.” It’s a terrible situation. I am grieving for him. I feel for his family. We can do better in Wisconsin, thank you God.
Roemer’s house was contacted by deputies at 6:30 a.m. regarding a report of an armed man and two shots being fired. According to police, the caller had left Roemer’s home and called the Juneau County Sheriff’s Office via a nearby address.
The department stated that authorities tried to negotiate with Uhde while he was still at the house, but failed. Roemer was found dead in the basement by a response team at 10:17 a.m.
Senior law enforcement officials claimed that the judge was secured with zip ties. According to the department, a firearm was discovered at the scene.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Roemer (68) was the target of the gunman. At a news conference, Attorney General Josh Kaul stated that Uhde “appears” to have had other targets but declined to name them.
He said that it appeared to be connected to the judicial systems. “At the moment, we don’t know of any evidence that suggests there is an active threat to other individuals. All other potential targets have been notified.
Two top law enforcement officers briefed about the incident stated that the suspected hit list included Evers, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Michigan Governor. Gretchen Whitmer. According to law enforcement officials, Uhde was being taken to the hospital when the list was discovered.
Whitmer’s office stated that it was notified about the list by law enforcement, but could not comment further.
Her office released a statement saying that Whitmer “has repeatedly demonstrated her toughness, and she will never be intimidated from doing what she does and working across the aisle in order to get things done.
Evers spokesperson said that his office did not comment on “security threats specific to the governor or the governor’s security detail.”
McConnell’s threat was reported to the U.S. Capitol Police.
Roemer was first elected to office in 2004, and he was re-elected in 2010, and 2016, according to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. In 2017, he retired.