WAUKESHA, Wisc. – A Wisconsin high school student was shot after police say the individual pointed a handgun at a school resource officer, ignoring commands to surrender the weapon. The shooting occurred inside the school building in a harrowing Monday morning incident.
Police raced to Waukesha South High School, located roughly 20 miles west of Milwaukee, soon after the incident was reported at about 10:15 a.m. Local authorities soon tweeted “the building is safe and secure” and confirmed there were no outstanding suspects.
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
— WaukeshaPD (@WaukeshaPD) December 2, 2019
The incident unfolded after a student reported to school officials that a male student brought a handgun to school, Waukesha Police Chief Russell Jack told reporters at a news conference later Monday. He said the school resource officer, an 11-year-veteran of Waukesha police, “immediately responded” to the area and tried to secure the classroom by getting other students to safety, Fox News reported.
Additional officers from the police department and sheriff’s office responded to the scene, and tried talking to the 17-year-old male student to “deescalate” the situation, Jack said.
Nevertheless, the suspect “would not remove his hands” from his pocket and ignored officers’ commands, according to the police chief. Eventually, he said the student removed the handgun from his waistband and pointed it at officers.
Waukesha South High School – One person taken by stretcher. Possible shooting. School on lockdown. pic.twitter.com/jssX6TMzDU
— VDC Photo News (@VDCphotoNEWS) December 2, 2019
A police officer at the scene “was forced to discharge” his firearm, the chief said. The officers immediately administered life-saving medical aid for the wounded suspect as the school was also placed on lockdown.
The student was transported to a hospital where the police chief said he is in stable condition. No police officers or other students were injured in the incident.
There is an active police situation at South High School. One young man was loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher. We will provide more details as they become available.
Officials say there is no longer a threat in the building, but students are being kept in their classrooms pic.twitter.com/iXG9r59avj— Waukesha Freeman (@WaukeshaFreeman) December 2, 2019
Shortly after the situation occurred, the police department tweeted the building was safe and what happened was an “isolated incident” and confirmed they were investigating the incident.
“I am very thankful that we’re in a situation where only one person was injured and that we aren’t in a situation that could have been much, much worse,” Mayor Shawn Reilly said.
Classes at Waukesha South resumed classes on Tuesday, officials said.
