A student wielding a weapon was fatally shot by police outside Mount Horeb Middle School, leading to a prolonged lockdown and a cloud of fear over the community, Wisconsin's top law enforcement official disclosed. According to The Chicago Tribune, State Attorney General Josh Kaul confirmed the shooting but kept details sparse as an ongoing investigation seeks to unravel the events leading to the tragic confrontation.
The strain extended into the afternoon with parents and students ensnared in a web of anxiety while police combed the scene. The student, described only as a juvenile male, never managed to get into the building, said Kaul; still, the unfolding situation caused a ruckus with children running from the school and parents frantically waiting for updates, as reported by ABC News. Kaul sidestepped questions on whether the student had discharged the weapon prior to being shot, or what the student's intentions were with the school building.
Hours after the report of gunshots, which left the sole assailant wounded, according to authorities, no other injuries were reported. Parents were subjected to a taxing wait; children were instructed to conceal themselves silently, with some students, such as Max Kelly, 12, recounting their escape from the school gym and hiding in a gas station bathroom, "I don’t think anywhere is safe anymore," his mother, Alison Kelly, told ABC News.
Mount Horeb, a quiet village roughly 25 miles from Madison, was swept into chaos as the local school district and law enforcement agencies sought to manage the situation, with additional details emerging sporadically via social media updates from officials. Despite recent security enhancements hailed by Mount Horeb Area School District Superintendent Steve Salerno in a statement obtained by The Chicago Tribune, who insisted that the quick actions of school staff prevented a potentially far worse outcome, a community's sense of safety has been jarred, with parents like Shannon Hurd exclaiming, "They're supposed to be safe at school."
Investigations continue as officials attempt to piece together a complete narrative of the day.
