Man admits shooting newlyweds dead for just £110 in 'senseless act of violence'
A heartless criminal has admitted to shooting a newlywed couple dead at a sports bar for around $140 (£110).
Thomas Routt Jr., 57, was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide after killing Gina Weingart, 37, and her husband Emerson Weingart, 33, in Wisconsin. He stole up to $140 (£110) from the Sports Page Bar where Gina worked.
Witnesses say Routt was playing on an arcade machine before pulling out a gun and telling the couple and another person not to move. The police confirmed that when one witness instinctively stood up, Routt pointed the gun at them.
Elkhorn police said: "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."
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Thomas Routt Jr., 57, was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide (No credit)He confessed to shooting both Emerson and Gina Weingart, and also firing at a witness as they ran away, police said. He was arrested by the local Sheriff's office three days after the incident. Routt is also being charged with attempted murder, armed robbery and being in possession of a gun.
“Routt subsequently admitted to shooting both Emerson and Gina Weingart and following the eyewitness out the back door and shooting at the eyewitness as they fled,” police said.
The 57 year old man wasn't allowed to have weapons because of his past crimes, which include burglary and arson.
“Routt said the next morning he discarded the weapon and ammunition in a trash receptacle at the Handi-Mart in Lake Como,” police said, adding that they later retrieved a 9mm handgun and ammo from the garbage.
He confessed to shooting both Emerson and Gina Weingart (FOX 6)
The couple had their whole lives together ahead of them (KCBD)His lawyer, Russell Jones, said: "We will be pleading not guilty. It wouldn't surprise me if there were surveillance cameras, but at this point we have not been provided any video footage of anything." Routt is in jail with his bail set at $2million.
Emerson's dad, Jeff Weingart, spoke about how sad he is about his daughter's death. He told WISN: "Somebody saw them. I don't care, you don't pull something like that off. I can't believe that it was just her and him in the bar." He also said: "Our families have been devastated by this senseless act of violence."
They had only just been married (Gina Lynn Weingart /Facebook)Routt is due to go to court on Wednesday, February 21. The Sports Page Bar is still closed while police look for more evidence.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help the family, and it's already raised more than its $10,000 target. The money will be used to help the family grieve "without worry of finances", says Julianne Perkins who set up the page. A service for the newly married couple was held on February 10, according to a local funeral home.
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