Suspect in Wisconsin school shooter threat had replica rifle, police say

Replica handguns and a replica rifle have been found inside the home of a 13-year-old Wisconsin boy who authorities initially believed posed a school shooter threat Thursday.

The new information comes after Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton said Thursday that the suspect who entered Roosevelt Elementary School was believed to be armed and had researched school shootings and made videos practicing "room entry" rifle techniques.

The suspect, a student in the Kenosha Unified School District, was identified and taken into custody at his home in Kenosha following a major law enforcement response Thursday.

In an update late Friday morning, the Kenosha Police Department said no real firearms were found during the course of the investigation and the suspect has since been charged with one count of terrorist threats.

"Detectives interviewed the suspect who claimed to have gone to the school to sell candy," police stated. "He later told a social worker that he went to the school with the intent to scare students."

According to Friday's press release, the boy's mother has cooperated with investigators and advised the suspect doesn't have access to firearms.

Patton on Thursday said police were called to Roosevelt Elementary School after school staff reported a suspicious person had entered the school through a secured entryway wearing a black backpack and holding a large duffel bag.

The suspect fled on foot after being confronted by school staff and was later taken into custody.

During a press conference Thursday, police also showed video footage in which, according to Patton at the time, the suspect is seen manipulating a rifle and appearing to practice "room entry techniques."

In Friday's update, police emphasized that officers had initial reason to believe the suspect had access to a real firearm "based on videos on social media and other witness information."

"The actions on scene were extremely suspicious and the internet activity by the suspect suggested they had extensive research history related to previous school shootings, information on how to execute a school shooting, and specifics about the targeted building," police stated.

The statement continues: "These are all concerns that resulted in our decision to safeguard all schools within the entire county until we could confirmed that there was no further threat."

Kenosha Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Weiss has commended the actions of school staff who alerted law enforcement.

"They may not have known in the exact moment what was happening, but their actions were heroic and prevented the unfathomable," he said Thursday.

The suspect is expected to make his first court appearance at 11:30 a.m. Friday.