Brent Hofman is accused of killing Rick Roundy and chasing a second man after a night of drinks and deer talk.

SHAWANO, Wis. — A 75-year-old Shawano County man accused of killing a longtime hunting acquaintance inside a rural garage has pleaded not guilty to homicide and attempted homicide charges tied to a November shooting in the town of Germania.

Brent Hofman remains jailed on $1 million cash bond as the case moves toward a July 8 status conference in Shawano County Circuit Court. Prosecutors say Hofman shot 67-year-old Rick Roundy after an evening that began with drinking and talk about deer hunting. A second man escaped, called 911 and later told investigators the shooting came without warning.

The case centers on what authorities say happened during a gathering among three older men who knew one another through nearby hunting land. According to the criminal complaint, Roundy and another man were at a residence in the town of Germania when Hofman, who lived down the road, arrived with a pistol and had been drinking. The men had cocktails, talked about deer hunting and spent time in a detached garage. The surviving man told investigators there had been no argument, no raised dispute and no action by Roundy that seemed to anger Hofman. Then, the complaint says, Hofman began talking about killing them. He picked up a pistol from the bar and said, “I hope you’ll excuse me if I have to kill you guys.”

The surviving witness, identified in court papers only as Victim 2, told investigators the words were strange because Hofman had never spoken that way around them before. The complaint says the men had known Hofman for more than 10 years from hunting on nearby properties. Victim 2 described him as “a bit weird” and “a hermit sort of dude,” but said they had never had problems with him. Moments later, the witness said, Hofman began firing. Roundy was hit and went down inside the garage. The witness told police Hofman “just starts to shoot for no reason,” and said neither he nor Roundy had done anything to set off the attack.

After Roundy was shot, the surviving man ran from the garage and locked himself inside another building on the property, according to the complaint. He armed himself with a .22-caliber rifle while calling 911. During the call, he told the dispatcher Hofman was outside and that he believed Hofman was trying to kill him. The complaint says Hofman followed him to the building. When Hofman came near a glass door or window, the survivor fired through the glass. The shot shattered the glass and left Hofman with serious cuts to his face. Deputies later arrived and took Hofman into custody. Investigators said he appeared heavily intoxicated at the scene.

Authorities say Hofman’s words after deputies arrived added to the confusion around a killing prosecutors have described as senseless. The complaint says Hofman asked a deputy why the deputy had shot him. The deputy told Hofman that officers had not shot him. Hofman then allegedly responded, “Thank you,” and “I love you.” He was treated for his injuries before being booked into jail. Shawano County District Attorney Gregory Parker called the case “a killing in cold blood” during an earlier court appearance, arguing that the complaint showed no provocation before the gunfire.

Hofman has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide in Roundy’s death and attempted first-degree intentional homicide involving the second man. Both counts include a dangerous weapon enhancer. The homicide count also includes an increased penalty tied to Roundy’s age. First-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence in Wisconsin if a defendant is convicted, though a judge later decides whether a person serving life could ever seek extended supervision. The attempted homicide count carries a long prison term on its own. Hofman has entered not guilty pleas to both counts, and the charges remain allegations unless proved in court.

The case had already cleared an early courtroom step before the plea. Hofman was ordered to stand trial after testimony at a preliminary hearing. That hearing required the court to decide whether prosecutors had shown probable cause that felonies were committed and that Hofman should face trial. The not guilty plea shifted the case into the next phase, where lawyers are expected to address scheduling, discovery, possible motions and trial length. The July 8 status conference is expected to help set the pace of the case or show whether either side is discussing a possible resolution.

Roundy, a Greenleaf man, was 67 when he was killed. Family materials described him as a grandfather, and reports identified him as a man connected to the same hunting circle as Hofman and the surviving witness. The setting was not a public bar or a crowded street but a rural property where men who knew one another had gathered during deer season. The complaint places the shooting inside a detached garage, with a bar area, a pistol and hunting talk just before the violence. That setting has become central to the case because the surviving witness told police the night had seemed normal until Hofman’s comment.

Several details remain unresolved in public records. Authorities have not publicly identified the surviving witness by name. The complaint does not offer a clear motive for why Hofman would allegedly fire on Roundy or pursue the other man. It also does not say that Roundy or the witness threatened Hofman before the shooting. Hofman’s defense has not presented its full theory in public filings, and no trial testimony has tested the complaint’s account in front of a jury. For now, the prosecution’s case rests heavily on the surviving witness, the 911 call, the scene evidence and statements investigators say Hofman made during and after the incident.

The case stands with Hofman in custody, Roundy dead and one surviving witness expected to remain central to the prosecution. The next scheduled court date is July 8, when lawyers are due back before the court to address the path toward trial or any other case resolution.

Author note: Last updated June 20, 2026.