KPD seeks "suspicious person" seen at Roosevelt Elementary

A "suspicious person" Kenosha Police are now saying they believe was armed with a firearm was reportedly taken into custody Thursday afternoon after allegedly attempting to enter a local elementary school earlier in the day.

Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton said Thursday afternoon that authorities were able to locate the individual and that person had been taken into custody at around 2:05 p.m.

"We will not be indicating the name of the individual involved at this time," Patton said during a briefing organized at the Kenosha Unified Schools' John J. Hosmanek Educational Support Center in Kenosha.

Kenosha Police had announced they were seeking a "suspicious person" authorities said had attempted to enter Roosevelt Elementary School at 9:02 a.m. 3322 Roosevelt Road, through a secure area.

The individual was reportedly carrying a backpack and a duffel bag when stopped and questioned by school staff. The individual then left the school, prompting an investigation.

A "secure hold" lockdown of all Kenosha Unified schools was put into place for the rest of the day. The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department and Pleasant Prairie Police stationed squads at all KUSD schools, including in Somers and Pleasant Prairie, and squads patrolled during the search.

During KUSD's secure hold, no one was allowed to enter or exit the buildings. "Schools continued business as usual while in a secure hold," KUSD officials stated.

Patton said later that a separate report of a possible "active shooter" at Gateway Technical College in Kenosha was "unfounded," and was likely due to the response of people reporting what they heard of the KUSD incident.

He indicated a Kenosha Police Department officer suffered serious injuries in an motor vehicle accident which occurred as units responded to the Gateway report. Patton said they would not be releasing the name of the officer involved in the accident.

Gateway indicated it had asked students to secure in place in a precautionary response to the incident Thursday. Shortly before 2:30 p.m., Gateway announced it was closing its Kenosha campus for the rest of the day in "an overabundance of caution" and had told its employees to leave for the day. All Kenosha campus Gateway evening classes/activities were called off Thursday.

All other Gateway campuses remained open as usual Thursday night.

Patton made his comments at a media briefing Thursday afternoon, where he commended the various agencies involved. Among others in attendance were KUSD Superintendent Jeff Weiss, Mayor David Bogdala, and Lt. Josh Hecker, the KPD public information officer.

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