Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin- A tragic incident unfolded outside a Wisconsin middle school on Wednesday morning when a student was shot and killed by police while carrying a pellet gun, according to the state Department of Justice. The shooting is currently under investigation by the Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation.
The incident occurred after authorities responded to a report of an individual with a backpack and a long gun near Mount Horeb Middle School, located approximately 20 miles southwest of Madison. Upon arrival, police discovered a 14-year-old boy, identified as a student, east of the school’s main entrance at 900 Garfield Street.
According to the Wisconsin DOJ, the situation escalated when officers instructed the teen to drop his pellet gun, and he instead pointed it at the officers. In response, the officers fired their weapons, resulting in the teen’s death at the scene. Fortunately, no one else was injured during the altercation.
The weapon recovered at the scene was identified as a Ruger .177 caliber pellet rifle, as confirmed by the state DOJ. Additionally, the officers involved in the shooting were reportedly wearing body cameras, in adherence to agency policy. As a standard procedure following such incidents, the officers have been placed on administrative leave.
The use of body cameras during the incident provides a crucial layer of transparency and accountability in understanding the events that transpired. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and risks involved in law enforcement responses to potential threats in school environments.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of the shooting, questions may arise regarding the circumstances leading to the use of lethal force by law enforcement. The findings of the investigation by the Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation are crucial in providing clarity and understanding to the public on the sequence of events that unfolded outside Mount Horeb Middle School.