Wisconsin school shooting: Cops use 'deadly force' to neutralize, kill 14-year-old suspect before he could enter campus

MOUNT HOREB, WISCONSIN: A 14-year-old boy was fatally shot by the police as he approached a middle school with a rifle in his hand.

The unidentified intruder was shot and killed on Wednesday, May 1 morning as he attempted to gain entry into Mount Horeb Area Middle School in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.

“Police officers from the Mount Horeb Police Department responded to a report of an individual with a weapon outside the middle school. Police officers responded to that threat, and they used deadly force," State Attorney General Josh Kaul told reporters, adding that the person was a student in the Mount Horeb Area School District.

Parents narrated of children hiding in closets and not wanting to talk on the phone. A middle school student said his class at first took to in-line skating to escape from the school gym.

Five gunshots were reported by schoolchildren, as well as nearby residents and businesses, who assumed that the police had opened fire.

No additional suspects were found

Following several terrifying hours, Mount Horeb Area School District Superintendent Steve Salerno stated that the "gunman" was shot and killed by the responding police before he could breach the entry gates.

The Mount Horeb Area School District sent parents a text alerting them of the shooter, somewhere around 11 in the morning.

"They are armed with a rifle and should be considered dangerous. For your safety stay inside, lock all doors, and avoid the area until further notice," it advised, according to Daily Mail.

Following the gunman's shooting at least fifteen minutes earlier, the district then made a Facebook post at 11.30 am. The school was closed from 11.16 am until approximately 12 pm, during which time police "scoped out" the campus, and a bomb squad examined a car linked to the gunman.

"An initial search of the middle school has not yielded additional suspects," the district said after it received the all-clear.

It further stated, "As importantly, we have no reports of individuals being harmed, with the exception of the alleged assailant. You would be so proud of our students and staff, and we're so grateful for our first responders.'"

District is working to ensure children's safety and comfort

There have been no reported injuries during the school shooting at Mount Horeb Middle School, which is about a half-hour's drive from Madison. The shooting sent the middle school and four other Mount Horeb Area School District schools into lockdown.

"Our students will remain in hard lockdown throughout all of our buildings. Law enforcement is circulating throughout the middle school to confirm the safety of all students," the district wrote on Facebook.

"Again, do not report to any of our schools at this time. Once we confirm the safety of all we will begin the process of reunification offsite with families," it added.

As officers made sure the building was secure, there was a noticeable police presence outside the middle school. While the situation involving the active shooter developed, some middle school students were evacuated; however, the majority of their peers remained inside.

By 5.00 pm, school administrators had only released students from the nearby elementary school while they awaited the conclusion of the police investigation.

The school district wrote, "We are working to continue to ensure children are safe, comfortable, and fed."

The middle school, the neighboring high school, and the playing fields in between the two buildings were all surrounded by police tape, and school buses were still parked in a line that extended blocks outside.

Parents 'don't think anywhere is safe anymore'

While the police maintained their presence on the campus hours later, students who had remained locked in buildings till late afternoon, slowly reunited with their families.

Jeanne Keller, who owns The Quilting Jeanne, a shop next to the middle school campus, reported hearing about five gunshots. “It was maybe like pow-pow-pow-pow,” Keller told The Associated Press by phone. “I thought it was fireworks. I went outside and saw all the children running ... I probably saw 200 children.”

A middle school student reported that during their in-line skating class in the school gym, they heard gunshots. 12-year-old Max Kelly claimed his teacher ordered the class to leave.

He claimed that after skating to a street and giving up their in-line skates, they sprinted to a convenience store and gas station nearby, where they hid in the restroom.

Reunited with his parents, Kelly went without shoes and sat on a hillside with them early on Wednesday afternoon, waiting for his younger siblings to finish school.

Alison Kelly, his mother, 32, said, "I don't think anywhere is safe anymore." In the early hours following the incident, Mount Horeb police stated they were unable to provide any information.

While directing reporters to a staging area, the Dane County Sheriff's office did not offer any updates.

Schools nationwide have sought ways to prevent mass shootings inside their walls, including physical security measures, active shooter drills, technology, and early detection of student mental health struggles.

Salerno suggested that without recent security upgrades, the tragedy could have been a far worse tragedy. The village is home to around 7,600 people and the central office of outdoor gear retailer Duluth Trading Company.

Internet expresses concern about the lack of gun control

As soon as the Daily Mail reported the news, the internet started sharing their opinions.

A person wrote, "Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. That’ll never change. What will also never change is good guys with guns take out bad guys with guns. I’m horrified to think what could’ve happened if a good guy wasn’t there with a gun."

Another user added, "The ONLY thing that will save us from mass shooters is more guns, no training, no licenses and plenty of rightwing radio!"

One commentator added, "Their child is dead. If the parents were negligent the ultimate price has been paid. No punishment imposed could be worse."

A person praised the police saying, "Good job officers! Responded quickly and neutralized the offender before anybody was harmed."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.