Former Wisconsin judge killed in shooting; suspect had list of 'targets,' official says

A retired Wisconsin judge was killed early Friday in a "targeted" shooting by a man officials say also appeared to target others related to government, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Retired Juneau County Judge John Roemer, 68, was found dead Friday morning after police received a 911 call about an armed person and gunshots in a residence, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said in a statement Saturday.

Found in the basement was a 56-year-old identified as Douglas K. Uhde, who had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to the statement. Police attempted to negotiate with the suspected gunman for hours before entering the home.

“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,” Attorney General Josh Kaul during a news conference.

“The individual who’s a suspect appears to have had other targets as well, appears to be related to the judicial system," Kaul also said, without providing any names.

Zach Pohl, Whitmer’s deputy chief of staff, said her office was notified that her name appeared “on the Wisconsin gunman’s list” but declined to give details about the suspect.

“Governor Whitmer has demonstrated repeatedly that she is tough, and she will not be bullied or intimidated from doing her job and working across the aisle to get things done for the people of Michigan," Pohl said.

Other people who appeared to be targeted by the suspect include Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Kaul said people identified as potential targets have been notified, but that there appears to be no further threat.

Uhde's criminal and prison record, which spans at least two decades, includes a case of weapons charges, for which he was sentenced by Roemer to six years in prison.

Donna Voss, a neighbor, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, that Roemer was "such a nice guy. Churchgoer. It’s terrible."

Roemer served on the Juneau County Circuit Court from 2004 to 2017, when he resigned due his wife's health; she died in 2018.

Contributing: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Official: Former Wisconsin judge killed, suspect had list of 'targets'