Wisconsin Police Eliminate School Shooting Threat, Officials Confirm

Mount Horeb, Wisconsin — Authorities said that no one was hurt inside the middle school on Wednesday morning after the threat of a school shooting was “neutralized” west of Madison, Wisconsin.

School administrators announced on social media just after 11 a.m. that there was an active shooter on the school’s campus. According to emergency management for the county, the suspect possessed a rifle.

At a press conference on Wednesday night, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul declared that “deadly force was used” and the suspect had died. As is customary when an officer is engaged in a shooting, Kaul stated that several officers are on leave in the wake of the event, though she did not specify how many.

The suspected gunman “did not breach the entryway” at the middle school, according to the Mount Horeb Area School District, and “no reports of individuals being harmed, with the exception of the alleged assailant.”

“He was outside and didn’t enter the school,” said Kaul. He declined to comment on whether the suspect ever attempted to enter the school or fired any bullets.

Although the suspect’s identity is still pending, Kaul stated that he was a child and a student in the district.

According to Kaul, family reunifications were still going on as of Wednesday night, and the district has been placed on lockdown since the call was received.

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Witnesses said they saw scores of children running and heard gunfire. At first, parents were not given much information because the entire school was under lockdown.

“There’s just a bunch of police officers that kept like knocking on the door and making sure that it was barricaded, and our (substitute teacher) that we had was by the door ready,” a witness told CBS News. “We’re all just sitting there crying and texting our parents.”

Kristen Malone anxiously awaited the police’s next move as they looked for potential suspects. Her daughter, who is eleven years old, gave her a phone call to express her love.

“My biggest fear kind of felt like it was unfolding,” said Malone. You still want to be able to hold and embrace them, even though I was able to speak with my daughter a short while ago. They seem pretty afraid, I know that. All that could be heard were screams and background pandemonium.

Over a dozen law enforcement vehicles, including SWAT-style trucks with flashing emergency lights, were present in the area. It was also possible to see first responders around a gurney on the sidewalk.

According to the district, the school’s first search “has not yielded additional suspects.” Later on Wednesday, Kaul added, officials didn’t think the community was still in danger.

By early afternoon, the district had started releasing some students from other schools, and worried parents waited at a bus depot, hoping to see their children again.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers released a statement saying, “I have been briefed on the incident at the Mount Horeb Area School District and am closely monitoring the situation.” “I am praying for the health and safety of our kids, educators, and staff and grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond.”

Twelve-year-old Max Kelly claimed his teacher urged the class to leave the building. He claimed that after skating to a roadway and giving up their in-line skates, they sprinted to a convenience shop and gas station nearby, where they hid in the restroom.

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Reunited with his parents, Kelly spent an early Wednesday afternoon sitting on a hillside with them while he awaited his younger siblings’ release from their respective schools. He left his shoes behind and continued to wear socks.

“I don’t think anywhere is safe anymore,” stated Alison Kelly, his mother, who is 32 years old.

Noah Hurd, the 44-year-old son of Shannon Hurd and her 39-year-old ex-husband, Nathian Hurd, waited for them in a car since Noah was still enrolled at the middle school that was under lockdown.

Shannon Hurd claimed that Noah texted her to let her know about the incident and to tell her that he loved her. She claimed that while rushing to get to the school, she almost tumbled down the stairs at work.

She uttered, “I just want my kid.” “They’re supposed to be safe at school, in Mount Horeb of all places.”

Schools all throughout the nation have looked into ways to stop mass shootings from happening within their buildings, from technological advancements like precise digital maps to physical security measures and drills on how to deal with an active shooter. Many also depend on educators and administrators to identify early indicators of mental health issues.

About 25 miles to the west of Madison is Mount Horeb.