Teen Arrested After Attempting Armed Entry into Wisconsin Elementary School

A 13-year-old boy was detained in Wisconsin after attempting to enter an elementary school with suspicious bags. Police suspect he had researched school shootings online. Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton stated that the boy might have been armed, based on videos showing him with a rifle and comments made to peers. "We narrowly missed a tragedy," Patton remarked during a Thursday news conference.

The incident occurred when the teen tried to enter Roosevelt Elementary School around 9 am with a backpack and duffle bag. School staff became suspicious and approached him, prompting him to flee. As a precaution, Kenosha Unified schools were locked down for the day while police searched for the boy, eventually arresting him at his home later that afternoon.

Investigation and Charges

The boy, who attends Mahone Middle School and previously attended Roosevelt Elementary, has not been named by authorities. He faces charges of making terroristic threats, according to a Friday news release. Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley confirmed that the case will proceed in juvenile court, where details remain confidential.

Uncertainty remains about whether the boy was armed during his attempt to enter the school. Investigators suspect he carried a firearm, but no weapons or ammunition have been confirmed as recovered from him. A search of his home revealed several pellet guns resembling real firearms, including a pellet rifle.

Online Activity and Intentions

The boy's mother informed investigators that he did not have access to actual firearms. The teen initially claimed he went to the school to sell candy but later admitted to a social worker that he intended to scare students. Investigators discovered multiple internet searches related to school shootings and videos shared with other students weeks before the incident.

"This is something that had been told to people of his growing intentions," Patton said. "We know that there is internet searches, and all the red flags that we would look for and expect someone to report were there." At least one video showed the student wielding what appeared to be a rifle while practicing room-entry techniques at home.

Context of Recent Events

The Kenosha Police Department cited social media videos and witness information suggesting the suspect had access to firearms. The agency noted suspicious actions at the scene and extensive online research related to school shootings and targeting specifics of the building.

This arrest comes six months after police shot an armed student outside a Wisconsin middle school following reports of someone with a weapon. That May incident in Mount Horeb led to an hourslong lockdown of local schools. Prosecutors later decided not to charge officers involved in the shooting.

Kenosha gained national attention in August 2020 when a white officer shot a Black man during a domestic disturbance, resulting in paralysis. The incident sparked protests, during which Kyle Rittenhouse shot three people, killing two. Rittenhouse was acquitted after claiming self-defence.