Officer Shoots Wisconsin High School Student Who Wouldn’t Drop Gun, Officials Say

Waukesha South High School students find their waiting parents and friends and hug after they leave the building following shots fired inside the school, Monday, December 2, 2019. A suspect is in custody after a student exchanged gunfire with a school resource officer Monday morning, a spokeswoman for the school district confirmed. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP)

A Wisconsin police officer shot a high school student inside a classroom at Waukesha South High School after he allegedly pointed a gun at police officers, according to reports on Monday.

After the incident, Waukesha South High School was placed on lockdown, officials said.

“This is an isolated incident. We are not seeking anybody else; we have no other persons of interest. We are in the investigative stage right now as the scene is stabilized,” the Waukesha Police Department wrote on social media.

Waukesha Police Chief Russell Jack said that a student brought a handgun into the classroom, CBS News reported. Jack said a school resource officer and members of the Waukesha Police Department responded to the case and attempted to speak to the student to deescalate the situation.

The student wouldn’t remove his hands from his pockets and ignored the officer, he added.

Then, the student, who was identified as a 17-year-old male, pulled out a gun and pointed it at the officers. One of the officers opened fire, striking him, Jack told reporters.

Officers then tried to give the student medical attention before the teen was taken to the hospital, where he is in stable condition, Jack said.

The police chief told Fox6 that the officer who fired his weapon is an 11-year veteran of the police force. He and other officers were not injured in the incident.

“This is clearly a superintendent’s worst nightmare,” said Waukesha Schools Superintendent Todd Gray in a statement, according to the local Fox affiliate station. “We are very grateful for the response of the South High School SRO, the Waukesha Police Department, and the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department.”

“For the citizens of Waukesha, I know this was a terrifying day for many students and parents,” said Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly.

Gov. Tony Evers also released a statement on the matter, “My heart is with the students, educators, and staff of Waukesha South High School and the entire Waukesha community as they mourn and endure the trauma of today’s shooting. I am grateful for our educators and first responders who worked quickly to keep our kids safe and ensure no one else was injured.”

Police also said that Waukesha North High School, a different high school in the area, was placed on lockdown on Monday. Another student was arrested.

“There was a report of a student possessing a firearm at north high school. The school was placed on lockdown and searched. The student was located in a residence in the City of Waukesha and was subsequently taken into custody, more information at a later time,” the police department wrote on Twitter later on Monday.