Waukesha South Shooting: Student Shot 3 Times, Had Pellet Guns

WAUKESHA, WI — A day after a 17-year-old was shot by Waukesha Police at Waukesha South High School, police officials revealed new details about Monday's shooting.

Waukesha Police Captain Dan Baumann in a Tuesday afternoon press conference said the 17-year-old student had become angry at a fellow student, and brought two guns to school — both pellet guns. Authorities said the guns the student brought to school were indistinguishable from conventional firearms. "I can get 100 firearms experts to look at that picture right there, and 100 of them will say that is a firearm," Baumann said.

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Teacher Reveals What Happened During Waukesha South Shooting

During the press conference, Baumann said a concerned Waukesha South High School student approached a School Resource Officer Monday morning, saying that a student brought a gun to school and pointed it at another student's head.

At the time, the School Resource Officer and a Police detective were in the school office. They ran to the classroom where the gun-carrying student was located. Baumann went on to say that the classroom was quickly evacuated as the School Resource Officer and Detective began to negotiate with the gun-carrying student.

Baumann said the student removed a gun from his waistband and pointed it at officers. A Waukesha Police officer shot the student a total of three times: once in the upper right thigh and in the arm twice. Officers immediately rendered aid to the student, who later went through surgery and intensive care at Children's Hospital. He is currently in stable condition as of Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Waukesha School District Superintendent Todd Gray called the incident "clearly a superintendent's worst nightmare. We are grateful for response of the school resource officer, police and sheriff," he said. "We will be reviewing the situation and working with students, staff and the police department to allow our students to resume learning tomorrow."

Reports Of Shots Fired

Many students reportedly first thought the school's active-shooter announcement was a drill. Teachers barricaded doors, and students began to huddle for safety.

Just after 11 a.m., Waukesha police sent out a message on Twitter saying the school building was safe and the incident was "isolated." By 11:15 a.m. classes had been dismissed, and parents were picking up their children outside on school grounds.

Buses lined up outside the school Monday morning as parents filed through the scene, eagerly seeking to be reunited with their children. Television crews talked with students about their experiences. Some were overwhelmed.

"We all just huddled up, stayed quiet," one student said to a reporter on television. "I was on the phone with my mother in the beginning. When I first texted my mom, she said she was on her way. I was just scared I wasn't going to see her again."

One student posted on social media as the incident unfolded. In her post, the student said an "active shooter" was in the building.

District Sent Message To Parents

Waukesha South High School Principal Kevin Kitslaar emailed a message to parents Monday morning confirming much of what had been publicly reported.

December 2, 2019 Dear Parents and Guardians, Today at approximately 10:00am we went into a lockdown.

The students and the staff responded quickly as all students were cleared from the hallway and in a locked classroom out of site. All the students were put into lock down due to the School Resource Officer (SRO) getting information that a student had a gun.

The SRO responded immediately to the situation and got the situation contained in one location. At the same time, as the building was put into a lock down the Waukesha Police Department responded quickly to the building and the situation.

They immediately went to the classroom the student that was suspected to have a gun. The situation was contained to this location and all the students were safe. Due to this event the students are going to be dismissed early.

The dismissal time will at 11:15am. Again we appreciate all the quick response by the staff and students. The safety and security of all students and staff are a top priority. I will be providing follow-up information later today as I know more information.

Sincerely,
Kevin Kitslaar