Waukesha South Student Who Brought Guns To School Named; Charged

WAUKESHA, WI — The 17-year-old Waukesha South student who police say was shot and injured during a confrontation with Waukesha police last Monday has been named and formally charged in court.

17-year-old Tyrone Smith has been charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety with a dangerous weapon; resisting an officer; disorderly conduct with a dangerous weapon and possessing a dangerous weapon at school.

Smith could face up to five years behind bars, if he is convicted of the felony count of recklessly endangering safety. He also faces up to 21 months of imprisonment based on the three misdemeanor charges that have been filed against him.

According to court documents posted online Monday, Smith was held in the Waukesha County Jail on a $15,000 cash bond, though his mother was expected to sign bond papers on behalf of her son.

According to court documents, Smith has been ordered to have no contact with Waukesha South High School students and staff members except for family members. He is under house arrest, and may leave home for medical and therapy appointments and for any appointments that are related to enrolling in different educational programs, documents stipulated Monday.

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Waukesha Police Captain Dan Baumann said Smith 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 in a press conference last week.

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During the press conference, Baumann said a concerned Waukesha South High School student approached a School Resource Officer Monday morning, saying that Smith 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 Smith was located. Baumann went on to say that the classroom was quickly evacuated as the School Resource Officer and Detective began to negotiate with him.

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

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.

Teacher, Students Recalled Anxious Moments

A.J. Raebel was leading class that Monday when an announcement crackled over the loudspeaker: There was an active shooter in the building.

"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.

Seven minutes after the lock down was announced, Raebel said, he heard three or four gunshots. His initial reaction was fear. He saw several students start to cry. They "bunked up," assuming positions that could potentially shelter them from a gunman.

Raebel left his protective position twice — first to see if he could help kids exit the school through open windows from a safe spot. There weren't any. Then he left his position again — not to hide but to potentially attack the gunman.

Raebel said it took 11 minutes for word to reach him that police shot the student and the threat had ended.

"Until this text came through, that was the longest 11 minutes of my life," he wrote.