Left inset: Brent Hofman (Shawano County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Rick Roundy (Cotter Funeral and Cremation Care). Background: The Wisconsin home and garage where cops say Rick Roundy was found dead after being killed by Brent Hofman (WSAW).
A 75-year-old man from Wisconsin, during a gathering with his hunting companions, unexpectedly declared, “I hope you’ll excuse me if I have to kill you guys,” before tragically shooting and killing one of the men, according to police reports.
Brent Hofman, hailing from Shawano County, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide following the November 2025 incident that resulted in the death of 67-year-old Ricky Roundy in a garage, as detailed in a criminal complaint.
The complaint further reveals that the other individual present during the shooting, referred to as “Victim #2,” informed investigators that he had known Hofman through hunting on neighboring properties for over a decade.
According to “Victim #2,” Hofman was described as “a bit weird” and a “hermit sort of dude,” yet they had never experienced any problems with him. The trio often conversed about deer, and on the day of the incident, they were at a residence in the Town of Germania when Hofman allegedly carried out the shooting.
“Victim #2” recounted that he and Roundy were at a residence when Hofman arrived, carrying a pistol and having consumed alcohol, as stated in the complaint. The men enjoyed a few drinks, discussed deer hunting, and did not face any issues. The three were gathered in a detached garage when Hofman, seemingly out of nowhere, mentioned, “Killing you guys.”
Hofman then reportedly picked up a pistol from the bar and addressed his two friends with the chilling words, “I hope you’ll excuse me if I have to kill you guys,” according to the complaint.
“This comment was out of the ordinary and Hofman had never said something like that during that evening or any other times they were together,” the document alleges. “Victim #2 stated neither he or Victim #1 said anything that would aggravate or upset Brent to cause him to do this.”
The surviving witness told police that Hofman “just starts to shoot for no reason,” striking Roundy and causing him to “go down.” The man said he fled and then locked himself in a building on the property and grabbed a .22-caliber rifle to defend himself, while calling 911.
“If that guy comes to the window, he is f—ing dead,” the man told a police dispatcher, according to the complaint, which also cites statements that the man gave to police afterward. “And he did. And I started to shoot,” the man recalled. “[Hofman] was going to get into the house, he wanted to kill me.”
Hofman pursued the man, who shot him through a glass door. The glass shattered, leaving Hofman with severe cuts to his face. Deputies showed up and took Hofman, who was allegedly very intoxicated, into custody.
“Why did you shoot me?” Hofman asked a deputy, who “advised he did not shoot him,” according to the complaint. “Thank you,” Hofman allegedly told the deputy. “I love you.”
Court records show that Hofman entered pleas of not guilty on Thursday in Shawano County Circuit Court. He is due back in court on July 8.
