Editor’s note: Officers have released additional information about the incident that happened at a southeastern Wisconsin elementary school on Thursday morning, specifying that the guns were air soft replicas. Find the latest updates here >
KENOSHA, Wis. (WFRV) – A 13-year-old was taken into custody in southeastern Wisconsin on Thursday afternoon after trying to enter a local elementary school multiple times earlier that morning, potentially armed.
The Kenosha Police Department held a press conference around 4 p.m. on Nov. 7 to update students and parents in the community on the potential threat to Roosevelt Elementary, which initially began around 9 a.m.
Authorities credited the staff at Roosevelt for their “quick and diligent actions” when the suspicious teenager showed up at the school with a backpack and duffle bag and was reportedly acting unusually nervous.
During the press conference, Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) Superintendent Jeffrey Weiss stated that the teen tried to enter the school numerous times, checking doors and entrances before coming around to the secured entry.
After being questioned by school staff, the suspect fled the area, prompting authorities to place all KUSD schools on a secure hold lockdown.
Shortly after 2 p.m., the 13-year-old was found and taken into custody by the Kenosha Police Department.
Investigators recovered at least one video of the teen holding a rifle, showing part of it during Thursday’s press conference, stating that the teen “appears to be practicing room entry techniques.” Authorities also noted that the suspect allegedly “performed multiple internet searches related to school shootings” in the weeks leading up to the incident.
“I know as a parent how scary this can be for a lot of folks, but what I take out of this, and I hope everyone else does, is that all the work and all the collaboration that goes in, in preparing for emergency situations like this, worked,” stated Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala.
No additional details have been provided.