Bond set at $1M for suspect charged in Shawano County homicide

TOWN OF GERMANIA, Wis. (WSAW) - Bond has been set at $1 million for the man charged in a Nov. 12 homicide at a home in the town of Germania. That’s just west of Tigerton.

Deputies were called to the home on County Road M around 9:15 p.m. on Nov. 12 for a report of a shooting. The caller told dispatchers a man, later identified as 74-year-old Brent Hofman, had shot his friend in the home’s garage.

The caller had locked himself in a building on the property and told dispatchers he would defend himself if necessary.

Hofman tried to enter the building where the caller had secured himself. The caller shot his .22-caliber rifle in Hofman’s direction through a glass door.

When deputies arrived on scene, they found Hofman outside the home. He had severe cuts to his face and head from the shattered glass.

Initially, Hofman failed to comply with verbal commands but was eventually arrested. Deputies noticed he was very intoxicated and slurring his speech.

During a search of the property, deputies found Roundy dead inside a garage.

All three people involved in the incident are connected through ownership of hunting land in the Germania area.

Hofman was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and booked into the Shawano County Jail.

Hofman made his first appearance in Shawano County Court on Nov. 18 via video.

He is formally charged with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree homicide and being armed while intoxicated. Both homicide charges have an increased penalty for crimes against an elderly person.

The victim has been identified as 67-year-old Rick Roundy from the Greenleaf area.

Roundy’s family released a statement to our Green Bay affiliate on Tuesday:

“We are devastated and heartbroken over the untimely loss of a wonderful man who meant so much to all of us.

As we grieve, we are thankful for the prayers and outpouring of support from family, friends and community members.

Please understand our need for privacy during this difficult time. We will not be making any additional statements."

Shawano County District Attorney Gregory Parker read the criminal complaint during Tuesday’s court hearing.

He read that Victim 2 told investigators they’ve known Hofman for many years through hunting and have joint properties. He added that there was nothing that was said in any way that Victim 2 believed to have aggravated or upset Hofman to cause him to do what he did.

Parker added, “I can’t put this thing any other way, but this is a killing in cold blood.”

View the full criminal complaint below:

A status conference, which is a court-ordered meeting held before a trial to monitor the progress of a legal case, is scheduled for Jan. 5.

Hofman remains in the Shawano County Jail.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Stockbridge-Munsee Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Tigerton Ambulance and the Shawano County Coroner’s Office.