Airsoft guns found at home of teenager planning to scare elementary students: police

KENOSHA, Wis. (TNND) — A 13-year-old boy is in custody after several airsoft handguns were found at his home and he admitted to wanting to scare students at a Wisconsin elementary school, according to authorities.

The Kenosha Police Department said the teenager walked into a secured area of Roosevelt Elementary School with suspicious bags Thursday morning and was approached by a school staff member before running into the neighborhood forcing the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) into a secure hold.

Police said they received several tips about the suspect being in the area which ultimately led to them locating the KUSD student around 2 p.m.

Officers were able to convince the teenager to surrender at his home before being arrested, according to a news release. He was charged with one count of terroristic threats.

After interviewing the suspect, police said he originally claimed he went to the school to sell candy but later told a social worker he had the "intent to scare students."

"No real firearms were located during the search," police said with his mother adding he didn't have access to any actual firearms.

The only reason the individual was not able to fully enter the school was because of the quick and diligent actions of the school staff,” Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton said during an afternoon news conference.

Other witness information and videos on social media led police to believe the suspect had access to some type of firearm, officials explained.

"No real firearms were located during the search," police said with his mother adding he didn't have access to any actual firearms.

The actions on scene were extremely suspicious and the internet activity by the suspect suggested they had extensive research history related to previous school shootings, information on how to execute a school shooting, and specifics about the targeted building," police said. "These are all concerns that resulted in our decision to safeguard all schools within the entire county until we could confirmed that there was no further threat.

Police played a video during a news conference showing the student holding what investigators believe is a rifle as he appears to practice "room-entry techniques."

KUSD Superintendent Jeff Weiss told reporters the suspect "actually tried numerous outside doors and entrances before coming around to where our secured entry is."

So far, police have not identified the boy or said how he obtained a gun.

"While yesterday’s incident did not result in unimaginable tragedy, it still had a powerful effect on many of us," police stated. "We now know that the suspect’s intentions were displayed and shared with others well before the event unfolded and if reported earlier, we may have been able to intervene and provide resources that would have allowed us to avoid such an impactful incident in our community."

Police encouraged parents to have conversations with their children and to talk about the importance of reporting suspicious activity.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Tim Cepress at 262-605-5261.

Kenosha made national headlines in August 2020 after a white police officer shot a Black man during a domestic disturbance, leaving him paralyzed. The shooting spurred several nights of protests. A white Illinois teenager named Kyle Rittenhouse shot three people during the unrest, killing two of them.

The shootings became a flashpoint in the national debate over guns, vigilantism and racial injustice. A jury eventually acquitted Rittenhouse of any wrongdoing after he argued he fired in self-defense.

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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.