Kenosha Schools on Alert: Police Hunt for Suspicious Individual

*2nd UPDATE* – A person believed to be armed was arrested by Kenosha police after trying to enter Roosevelt Elementary School this morning. Video was shared at an afternoon press conference showing the suspect and a gun. Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss expressed relief at the outcome of what could have been a potential school shooting.

*UPDATED* – Note from KUSD to parents below, dimissal process under review for today. Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department says they have someone posted at every county school as a precuation. Reports of an arrest are incorrect, according to Kenosha Police.

KENOSHA, Wis. (WRJN) — Several Kenosha schools were placed on hold Thursday morning after police reported a suspicious person at Roosevelt Elementary School.

Kenosha police said the individual went into a first set of doors at Roosevelt around 9:00am. When school staff met and questioned them in the secured entryway, the suspect fled the building into the neighborhood.

The suspect was seen with a black bag, wearing black clothes and was briefly chased, before being able to run off.  The strange situation prompted nearby schools to implement precautionary holds. 

Police went back to look at the tape from Roosevelt and saw that the suspect had tried to enter several exterior doors at the school, but they were all locked.  Authorities have not provided specific details on the nature of the concern.

Law enforcement deployed drones and a helicopter in the area surrounding Roosevelt. Parents gathered outside the school, attempting to take their children home.

Police are actively searching for the person of interest and have released an image on social media. They urge anyone with information to contact the Kenosha Police Department. A decision regarding dismissal and afterschool activities has yet to be made. 

The following is a note that went to Kenosha Unified parents and families.

Hello, KUSD families. We are calling to share that due to the incident at Roosevelt this morning involving an individual entering the building with suspicious bags and then fleeing into the neighborhood, all KUSD schools are currently on a secure hold. This means business as usual is occurring inside schools, but no one can enter or exit buildings at this time. We also are holding our morning 4K students and canceling our afternoon 4K. We understand the concerns this may raise, but assure you this is being done for the safety of our students, staff and families as we work closely with the Kenosha Police Department who is working to locate the suspect as quickly as possible. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please call the Kenosha Police Department at 262-656-1234. Thank you.

There is a large police presence at Roosevelt Elementary School for a report of a suspicious person at the school. The Kenosha Police Department is working with Kenosha Unified School District to ensure that all KUSD campuses are safe. The suspicious person is no longer on school property and the police are actively looking for him. We understand that these incidents often cause fear and concern. Please know that KUSD and the KPD have worked together for many years to handle situations like this. We are actively looking to identify the individual depicted in the attached photo. If you know this person or recently saw this person please contact the Kenosha Police Department at 262-656-1234. We will keep the community updated as the investigation continues.