‘Could have been a far worse tragedy’: Wisconsin police kill armed teen outside school

Law enforcement officials in Wisconsin fatally shot and killed an armed boy outside a middle school on Wednesday morning, according to state Attorney General Josh Kaul. The boy, who was a student in the Mount Horeb School District, was shot by officers before he could enter the school premises.

During an afternoon press briefing, Kaul confirmed the incident and stated that there was no ongoing threat to public safety following the incident. The shooting occurred around 11:15 a.m. local time, prompting a response from law enforcement to reports of an individual with a weapon outside the middle school.

Kaul stated that officers used deadly force to neutralize the threat posed by the armed individual. He assured that no students or school staff were injured during the incident. The reunification process between parents and students continued through Wednesday night.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice will lead the investigation into the shooting, with assistance from the agency’s Office of School Safety. Kaul emphasized the priority of ensuring the safety of students and school staff, thanking the parents and community members for their patience and support.

Mount Horeb School District Superintendent Dr. Steve Salerno praised the staff and community for their response to the incident and announced that schools would be open on Thursday to provide support to students and staff. He urged everyone to take time to process the events and emphasized the importance of school violence prevention as a shared responsibility.