Authorities in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin have launched a thorough investigation into the fatal police shooting of a student who was armed outside a middle school. The incident occurred on Wednesday, prompting a lockdown of the middle school, as well as a nearby high school and elementary school.
According to reports, officers responded to the school after receiving a report of someone with a weapon. The student, whose name has not been released, was fatally shot by police. Police Chief Doug Vierck stated that the officers responded with deadly force when faced with a deadly threat, and no officers, students, or staff were injured other than the armed individual.
Details about the weapon the student possessed or whether he fired it remain undisclosed. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is leading the investigation, as required by state law for any death caused by police.
The Mount Horeb Area School District did not hold classes on Thursday, and a community gathering was organized at the high school to provide support for families affected by the incident. Superintendent Steve Salerno expressed the district's commitment to supporting the community during this crisis.
Attorney General Josh Kaul declined to provide further details about the incident, citing the need to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation. The village of Mount Horeb, located about 25 miles west of Madison, is awaiting the results of the investigation being conducted by the Department of Justice.
