Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) was among the names found on a 'hit list' believed to belong to the person suspected of killing a retired Wisconsin judge, her office told the Detroit News on Saturday.
Driving the news: The suspect, identified to reporters by the Wisconsin DOJ as Douglas K. Uhde, is accused of killing former Juneau County Circuit Court Judge John Roemer in his home in what officials are calling a "targeted act." Multiple outlets have reported several public officials were on the list, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, but Whitmer is the first to confirm her name appeared.
Catch up fast: Local police were called to Roemer’s home early Friday morning after receiving a report of shots fired. When they arrived, they attempted to negotiate with someone inside the home, according to a Wisconsin Department of Justice press release.
- When police entered the home, they found Roemer, who retired in 2017, dead.
- In the basement, they found the 56-year-old Uhde with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police recovered a gun, and Uhde was transported to a hospital. He is listed in critical condition.
- Wisconsin’s Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation, with support from local and state police and the FBI, according to a release.
What they’re saying: "This, as I mentioned before, does appear to be a targeted act and the individual who is a suspect appears to have had other targets as well. It appears to be related to the judicial system," said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul at a Friday press conference, per CNN.
- While the investigation is ongoing, Kaul added that police did not believe others were in danger.
- "Those who may have been other targets have been notified of that, but we are not aware of any active threat to individuals," he said.
