Teen arrested after Kenosha elementary school incident charged with terroristic threats
KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A 13-year-old suspect, who was arrested after Kenosha authorities say he attempted to get inside an elementary school armed with a rifle, made an initial court appearance Friday, Nov. 8. He has been charged with one count of terroristic threats.
Kenosha police say the suspect claimed he went to Roosevelt Elementary School on Thursday, Nov. 7, to sell candy, but later admitted to a social worker he went to the school with the intent to scare students.
According to police, just after 9 a.m., the suspect showed up to the school with a rifle inside a bag. Fortunately, the suspect was not able to get inside, and all students and staff were unharmed.
The suspect was taken into custody at his home. Police say he is a student in the Kenosha Unified School District.
A search warrant was executed at the teen's home Thursday afternoon, and police found several air soft replica handguns and a replica rifle.
No real firearms were located in the search.
According to police, the suspect's mother is cooperating with the investigation and advised her son does not have access to firearms.
A news release from Kenosha police reads in part, "Incidents like these remind us that our community is not exempt. We need to remain vigilant and be willing to say something if we see something."
There was no class at Roosevelt Elementary School Friday, due to a pre-planned staff workday.
The suspect's family left the Kenosha County Courthouse in silence after he made his first court appearance Friday. The hearing was not open to the public.
"We had to close the blinds, we couldn't go near the windows, and we were super confused," said Allyson Ervin, a 5th grade student at Roosevelt Elementary School.
Fifth-grader Allyson Ervin said she was scared when her school went on lockdown.
"I've always thought, well, if this ever happens, I know I'm going far away from the door, I'm hiding under stuff. I was always prepared for this type of stuff," Ervin explained.
A day later, Allyson said she still feels shaken up.
"I was worried about what could have happened if it weren't for the staff's quick actions," she said.
The teen was stopped by at least one staff member.
Allyson tells us the man who confronted the teen was Mr. Lowry.
According the school website, Lowry is a student teacher for 4th and 5th grade.
"This is something I'm not shocked about. He's a really nice person, so knowing that Mr. Lowry was quick to act is not surprising to me," Allyson said.
"Our instincts took over, and we relied on our training to ensure everyone’s safety," said Keith Lowry in a statement from KUSD. "People are calling me a hero, but to me, it’s simply part of the job. I’m here to make sure our students feel safe and loved. The true heroes of the day are the staff at Roosevelt—they ensured our students experienced a normal day, unaware of the chaos surrounding the building. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t highlight the swift and decisive actions of the Kenosha Police Department, who acted on the information we provided and captured the suspect within a few hours. The outpouring of support has been humbling, and I appreciate the collaborative effort that helped keep our school community safe."
The suspect's next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 12.