Kenosha student arrested after trying to enter school with a gun

The Kenosha Police Department arrested a 13-year-old Thursday who allegedly tried to enter Roosevelt Elementary School carrying a firearm. 

At approximately 9 a.m., the Kenosha Unified School District student reportedly attempted to enter the school, at 3322 Roosevelt Road, carrying suspicious bags. 

When school staff met and questioned him in the secured entryway, the teen fled, according to district officials.

The teen was located and arrested shortly after 2 p.m. 

Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton said “quick and diligent” action by the school staff prevented the teen from entering the school beyond the main entrance. 

Patton said it is still unclear how the teen obtained a gun.

“Through the initial investigation, we know that this is something that should have been known,” Patton said. “This is something that had been told to people. We know that there were internet searches. And all the red flags were there. We narrowly missed a tragedy today.”

Patton said the investigation showed that the teen shared video and made comments to other students for weeks leading up to the incident. At a press conference, Patton showed one of those videos, with the teen carrying an AR-15-style rifle in which he, “appears to be practicing room entry techniques.”

Investigators also found the teen had been doing internet searches about school shootings.

Further details have not been released about the teen, including where the student attends school. 

“Today, we experienced something that all school staff and families fear: a potential school shooting,” Kenosha Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss said at a news conference. “Today, we are thankful.”

On May 1, police killed a 14-year-old student outside of Mount Horeb middle school. The student was pointing a weapon at police. The gun turned out to be an air rifle.