ELKHORN, Wis. — Thomas Allen Routt Jr., 57, was arrested earlier this month in connection to a double homicide.

What You Need To Know

  • Thomas Allen Routt Jr., 57, was arrested in connection to a double homicide that took place Feb. 1 at Sports Page Barr in Elkhorn, Wis.

  • Police said Routt admitted to shooting the two victims and shooting a witness who fled the scene 

  • Police also said Routt admitted to stealing money from the bar 

  • Per court records, Routt was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide by use of a dangerous weapon, one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide by use of a dangerous weapon, one count of armed robbery and one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon

A shooting took place on Thursday, Feb. 1 at Sports Page Barr in Elkhorn, Wis. Emerson and Gina Weingart were killed in the shooting.

A person who was in the bar during the shooting told law enforcement a male, whom officials said they suspect was Routt, came into the bar and was playing on game machines. That person’s name has not been disclosed by law enforcement.

The person said after 30 minutes, Routt, Emerson Weingart, Gina Weingart and the witness were the only ones in the bar.

“The eyewitness said Routt brandished a handgun and pointed it at Gina, the bartender, and ordered them not to move. The eyewitness said they instinctively got up off their barstool and Routt pointed the gun at the eyewitness and ordered the eyewitness not to move,” the Elkhorn Police Department said in a statement. “The eyewitness said they sat back down and said Routt subsequently fired the gun at Gina and the eyewitness immediately fled out the door, calling 9-1-1 after distancing themself from the scene.”

Elkhorn police said Routt was arrested by the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 4, at 3:40 a.m. Police said Routt was on parole for arson.

Elkhorn police said Routt admitted to shooting Emerson and Gina Weingart. Police said he also admitted to shooting at the witness out the back door as they ran from the bar. He then chased the witness.

However, he told police he returned to the bar. Elkhorn police said Routt admitted to taking $120 to $140 from the bar’s open cash drawer before returning to his home in Elkhorn.  

According to police, Routt told them he threw the gun and ammunition out at a Handi-Mart in Lake Como on Feb. 2. Police said they then found a 9mm handgun and ammunition in the trash at Handi-Mart.

Per court records, Routt was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide by use of a dangerous weapon, one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide by use of a dangerous weapon, one count of armed robbery and one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

The investigation is ongoing. Elkhorn police said “there is no indication that anyone other than Routt was directly involved in the crime.” 

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