Investigators say Rick Roundy and Brent Hofman knew each other for years before the fatal night in Germania.
SHAWANO, Wis. — The men gathered as hunting acquaintances, talking over drinks in a rural garage, before police say one of them picked up a pistol and killed 67-year-old Rick Roundy without warning.
The relationship among the three men is a key part of the case against Brent Hofman, a 75-year-old Shawano County man who has pleaded not guilty to first-degree intentional homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide. Prosecutors say Hofman, Roundy and a second man had known one another through nearby hunting land for more than 10 years, making the sudden violence harder to explain in the public record.
Roundy was from Greenleaf, and reports from the case identified him as a grandfather. The shooting happened in the town of Germania, a rural Shawano County community where hunting land, private buildings and longtime local ties form much of the backdrop. According to the criminal complaint, the men were not meeting for the first time or dealing with a known feud. The surviving witness told investigators that Hofman was “a bit weird” and “a hermit sort of dude,” but he also said he and Roundy had never had issues with him. The men talked about deer regularly, he said.
That ordinary context is what prosecutors have used to frame the charge as especially stark. Shawano County District Attorney Gregory Parker said in court that he viewed the case as “a killing in cold blood.” The complaint says Hofman arrived at the property with a pistol and had been drinking. Roundy and the surviving witness were already there. The three men had a few cocktails and talked about deer hunting in a detached garage. The witness said the night carried no obvious sign of danger before Hofman started talking about killing people.
The complaint says Hofman picked up a pistol from the bar and told the two men, “I hope you’ll excuse me if I have to kill you guys.” The surviving witness later told investigators the remark was unlike anything Hofman had said that night or during earlier times they were together. He said neither he nor Roundy had said anything to anger Hofman. The witness then described the moment the gathering turned deadly. Hofman “just starts to shoot for no reason,” the witness said, according to the complaint. Roundy was hit and went down inside the garage.
The second man survived by running. He fled the garage, locked himself inside another building on the property and grabbed a .22-caliber rifle. He called 911 and told the dispatcher that Hofman was coming after him. When Hofman approached the glass, the survivor fired through it, the complaint says. The glass broke, and Hofman suffered severe cuts to his face. Deputies arrived soon after and took Hofman into custody. Investigators described him as very intoxicated. Hofman was taken for medical treatment before being booked into jail.
Roundy’s death has turned a private hunting circle into a public criminal case, but many personal details remain outside the public record. The surviving witness has not been named in reports. The complaint does not give a motive. It does not say that Roundy threatened Hofman, insulted him or made any move that would explain the attack. It also does not describe any long-running conflict among the men. Instead, the public evidence described so far focuses on the witness’s account of a sudden statement, a pistol, gunfire and a chase from one building to another.
Hofman’s conduct after deputies arrived is also part of the allegation. The complaint says he asked a deputy why the deputy had shot him. The deputy said officers had not shot him. Hofman allegedly said, “Thank you,” and “I love you.” Those statements came after the surviving witness had fired through the glass and after Hofman had suffered facial injuries. Prosecutors have pointed to intoxication in describing his condition, but the charging documents made public do not state that intoxication was a legal defense or that it explained why Roundy was shot.
Hofman’s case has moved slowly through the early court process. He was charged after the November shooting and held on $1 million cash bond. A judge later found enough evidence at a preliminary hearing for the case to continue. Hofman entered not guilty pleas in May. His next scheduled court date is July 8, a status conference expected to address future proceedings. A trial date has not been publicly highlighted in available reports. If the case goes to trial, jurors would likely hear about the men’s hunting connection, the survivor’s 911 call, scene evidence and any statements made by Hofman.
The charges are among the most serious under Wisconsin law. First-degree intentional homicide carries life imprisonment if convicted. The attempted homicide charge adds more potential prison time, and prosecutors also filed penalty enhancers tied to the alleged use of a dangerous weapon. The charge involving Roundy includes an enhancer related to an elderly victim. Hofman is presumed innocent unless convicted. His not guilty pleas mean prosecutors must prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, and the defense will have the chance to challenge the witness accounts, evidence and legal theories.
The setting remains central because it was both familiar and isolated. The complaint describes a detached garage on private property, a bar area, drinks, hunting talk and men who knew the local land. There was no crowd to separate them and no large public scene before the gunfire. Roundy’s death occurred in a place where the men had enough shared history for the survivor to say there had been no past problems. That contrast, between routine company and sudden violence, is likely to remain a major theme as prosecutors present the case.
The case now stands at a pause before its next court date. Hofman remains in custody, Roundy’s death remains charged as intentional homicide, and the surviving witness’s description of a familiar hunting gathering turned deadly is expected to shape the next stage.
Author note: Last updated June 20, 2026.