Florida man allegedly 'lost his temper' and killed neighbors over laundry room dispute
12/06/2022 12:09 pm PST
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) -- A 75-year-old man stands accused of fatally shooting his 81-year-old neighbors over a dispute about their shared laundry room.
According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday, Dec. 4, Hugh Hootman allegedly fatally shot Ginger Wallace and Henry Wallace at the Cedar Pointe condominium complex on East Ocean Boulevard. The suspect reportedly lived in a unit above the Wallaces.
The suspect’s wife, Susan Hootman, called 911 and said, "My husband just shot our neighbors, and I think he killed them," WPBF-TV reports.
Susan Hootman continued, "The neighbor downstairs just the other day shouted at me and swore at me regarding the washer and dryer."
During an interview, Hugh Hootman reportedly told detectives that Henry Wallace yelled at Hootman’s wife because she left the shared laundry room door open. Hootman allegedly confronted Henry near the mailbox and told him he needed to apologize, and Henry pushed past him.
According to WPBF, Hootman told detectives, "I lost my temper," and he shot Henry several times.
Henry’s wife went to inspect what was happening, and Hootman allegedly shot her twice.
Hootman was taken into custody and told detectives, "So sorry. I wish I could take it back," WPBF reports. Hootman reportedly had a permit to carry his gun in his pocket for protection.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Hootman was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
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