A disturbing new report from CNN today has likely left a slew of politicians looking over their shoulders, as the outlet reveals that a Wisconsin judge was killed in his home this week by an unhinged gunman with a political hitlist that reportedly included the likes of Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
68-year-old Judge John Roemer, who served as a circuit court judge in Juneau County, was shot dead in his New Lisbon home by a 56-year-old who remains unidentified, according to authorities. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul noted that the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing, but revealed that the shooter was motivated by “some sort of court case or cases.” Kaul went on to explain that as it stands, they only know that the gunman’s hit list has “something to do with the judicial system.”
This weekend, CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield reported on CNN Newsroom and revealed that sources have spoken with the network, confirming that the shooter had plans to target a “long list” of notable, high-ranking government officials, including KY Senator Mitch McConnell, Wisconsin Democratic Governor Tony Evers, and Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer — who is no stranger to threats of violence lodged against her and was targeted in a kidnapping plan that was foiled by the FBI as recently as 2020.
The details of the unidentified gunman’s motive are not yet known, but CNN law enforcement correspondent Whitney Wild highlighted a “heightened threat” environment for government officials as a result of unstable and radicalized individuals who have “anti-government sentiments and grievances” and could be looking to set their sights on a “soft target” such as Judge Roemer, which has created a “real concern” for their safety.
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Kaul revealed that authorities received a call about someone inside the judge’s home with a firearm on Friday morning. He stated that the call was placed by an unidentified individual who was inside Roemer’s home and heard two shots fired before fleeing to a nearby property. When police arrived, they attempted to negotiate with the gunman but were eventually forced to breach the judge’s home, where they found Roemer already shot and killed as well as discovered the human deceased in the basement of the home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Kaul confirmed in the aftermath of Judge Roemer’s murder that the 56-year-old unidentified gunman did have plans to target and kill other government officials. He confirmed that those targets have been notified but explained that they are no longer under an “active threat” against their lives.
Featured image via screen capture
