Nov. 7, 2024 3:15p; Updated 11-8
(WGTD)---Kenosha Unified staff and police apparently thwarted a potential shooting at Roosevelt Elementary Thursday. A 13-year-old suspect is in custody and no one was hurt--with the exception of a police officer who'd been responding to a separate report of an active shooter at Gateway Technical College that turned out to be unfounded.
The suspect was identified as a Mahone Middle School who used to attend Roosevelt.
Speaking at a briefing for reporters Thursday afternoon, Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton said that a subject with a backpack and a duffel bag tried to enter Roosevelt just after 9 a.m., but was stopped by a staff member and questioned. The teen fled.
The boy was eventually identified, located and arrested at 2:05 p.m., Patton said.
School staff was praised for following protocol and interacting with the student in a secure entryway. KUSD Superintendent Jeff Weiss said that although the staff didn't realize it at the time they acted "heroically."
Without elaborating, Patton said police believe the individual was armed when he tried to enter the school.
At about 1:20 p.m., police received an unfounded report of a shooter at Gateway shortly after Gateway placed itself on lockdown as a response to the KUSD incident.
An officer responding to the report was involved in a "very serious" traffic accident and was taken to the hospital for treatment. The officer is in stable condition and is recovering, according to Patton. It appeared that the police officer lost control of his squad car, drove up the curb and struck a small tree. The squad car's airbags were deployed.
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