Shawano County ( trfnews.i234.me ) – Authorities in Shawano County, Wisconsin, say a casual talk about deer hunting turned deadly near Tigerton. A man is now charged with murder and attempted murder after what investigators describe as a bizarre and sudden attack.
According to a criminal complaint, three men had gathered at deer hunting land they had used for years. The group included landowner Rick Roundy, suspect Brent Hofman, and a third man who survived the shooting. The men had known each other for about a decade and often talked about deer and hunting on neighboring properties.
The surviving victim told investigators there had been no serious disputes over the land. He described Hofman as “a bit weird” and a hermit-type person, but said they had never had major issues. On the night of the shooting, the men were in the garage on Roundy’s property and were drinking whiskey. The complaint notes that Hofman was drinking at a much faster rate than the other two.
During what was described as a nonchalant conversation about deer hunting, Hofman removed a handgun from his holster. He placed it on the bar top in the garage. The surviving victim and Roundy looked at the firearm and did not see this as a threat. A short time later, Hofman picked up the pistol again and reportedly said something like, “I hope you’ll excuse me if I have to kill you guys.” The complaint says this statement was unusual and unlike anything Hofman had said before.
Roundy walked toward Hofman and asked if he was okay. At that point, Hofman allegedly raised the pistol and began firing at Roundy. The surviving victim tried to escape and saw Roundy fall to the floor. As he ran from the garage to the nearby residence, he believed Roundy might be dying or already dead.
The surviving victim entered the house, which was only a few feet from the garage. He called 911, then grabbed a .22 caliber rifle from inside. While he was on the phone with dispatch, he saw Hofman come to the exterior door of the residence. Believing Hofman was going to kill him, the surviving victim aimed through a scope and fired one round. Hofman fell back as glass shattered in the door. The victim then heard Hofman moaning and, about 30 to 45 seconds later, saw Hofman standing again in the broken doorway. The victim fired a second shot and believed he hit Hofman.
Law enforcement arrived and took Hofman into custody. Court documents indicate Hofman had visible marks on his face, but it was not immediately clear if those injuries came from bullets or broken glass. Roundy was pronounced dead. Hofman is now charged with first-degree homicide for Roundy’s death and attempted homicide for the attack on the surviving victim.
Hofman is being held in jail on a bond of $1 million. Investigators suggest Hofman may have suffered a mental breakdown, though a motive has not been firmly established. The case remains under investigation.
More information about Wisconsin court procedures can be found through the Wisconsin Court System.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
