Florida man kills 81-year-old neighbors after laundry room dispute, deputies say

Suspect: ‘Wish I could take it back’

Hugh Hootman (Martin SO)

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. – Bitter feelings over a laundry room dispute days earlier led a man to murder his 81-year-old neighbors over the weekend at their condominium complex just outside of Stuart, according to sheriff’s deputies.

According to an arrest affidavit from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Hugh Hootman, 75, ran into his neighbor, identified by West Palm Beach ABC affiliate WPBF as 81-year-old Henry Wallace, at the community mailbox Saturday.

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Deputies said Hootman demanded Wallace apologize for “cussing and yelling” at his wife, Susan, for leaving the shared laundry room door open a few days before.

The report states that Wallace ignored Hootman and tried to push him away.

Hootman told detectives that infuriated him.

“I lost my temper,” Hootman said, according to the report.

Hootman took out his 9 mm pistol, charged a round into the chamber, pointed the weapon at Wallace, then fired, shooting him twice in the chest, the report states.

Detectives wrote that Wallace’s wife, identified by WPBF as Ginger Wallace, also 81, exited their apartment and began yelling and screaming.

As Ginger Wallace stood close to her husband’s body, Hootman again raised his gun and fired two shots, killing her, deputies said.

Ginger Wallace was the president of the Cedar Pointe Village homeowners association, the station reports.

According to the report, Hootman walked back upstairs to his apartment, set the gun on a wooden stand in the living room and told his wife: “call the police, I just shot Henry and Ginger.”

In 911 calls obtained by WPBF, Susan Hootman explains to the dispatcher: “My husband just shot our neighbors and I think he killed them.”

“The neighbor downstairs just the other day shouted at me and swore at me regarding the washer and dryer,” she said.

In an interview with detectives, Hootman said he has a concealed-carry permit and normally carries his pistol in his pocket for protection, the report states.

“He also confirmed he never keeps a round in the chamber of the firearm,” detectives wrote. “Hootman stated he was, ‘so sorry, wish I could take it back.’”

Hootman also wrote a handwritten apology note, deputies said. According to detectives, Hootman continually reiterated how upset he was that Henry Wallace had yelled at his wife and “wouldn’t apologize.”

Hootman was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Arrest report (contains handwritten note):


About the Author:

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.