Teen arrested after a “potential” shooting at a Wisconsin elementary school was thwarted by staff

Police say a 13-year-old boy is in custody after he allegedly tried to enter an elementary school in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with a gun Thursday morning before being scared off by a staff member.

Kenosha police said just after 9 a.m. Thursday, a suspicious boy carrying a backpack entered a secured area of ​​the school.

When the boy was approached by a school employee, he immediately fled. All schools in the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) were then placed on school suspension, i.e.

Police said during a news conference they received several tips about the suspect's presence in the area, which ultimately led them to locating the suspect, a 13-year-old KUSD student. Responding officers convinced the teen to surrender before he was arrested.

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In a video shared by police during the press conference, the arrested teenager can be seen inside a house with a rifle.

Officials said the video shows the teen appearing to practice “room entry techniques.”

Investigators also learned that the teen had searched the internet about school shootings before Thursday's incident.

“We believe this was indeed an armed suspect with a firearm and there was no legitimate reason for him to enter the school,” said Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton. “The only reason the individual was unable to fully enter the school was due to the quick and careful actions of school staff.”

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In Kenosha, Wisconsin, police arrested a 13-year-old boy for allegedly trying to enter an elementary school armed. (iStock)

KUSD Superintendent Jeff Weiss told reporters that the teen attempted to enter the elementary school several times, saying the student checked multiple doors and entrances before going to the secured entrance.

“Today we experienced something that all school staff and families fear: a possible school shooting,” Weiss said.

Weiss emphasized that when Roosevelt was built, it was intended to keep students safe in the event of a fire, not for challenges that schools face today, such as shootings.

In a letter obtained by FOX 6 in Milwaukee and sent to the school community, Weiss informed parents of the safety measures the district has implemented to prevent another tragedy.

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“Our staff and students regularly review, plan and rehearse alongside law enforcement partners for incidents like the one we experienced this morning in Roosevelt. We don’t take this lightly,” Weiss said. “We are grateful for the secured entrance to Roosevelt Elementary School, which prevented easy access to the building and our students and staff. We are grateful for our employees who courageously stop individuals and ask questions that cause individuals to question their decisions and flee.”

“We are grateful for the numerous law enforcement agencies that surrounded our schools, not only in Kenosha Unified but throughout the county,” he added. “We are grateful for our staff who continue to work with our children, your children and our students throughout the day to create as much normality as possible, despite their own fears they may face. We are grateful for our families who have trusted us to work with law enforcement to ensure the safety of their children.”