(MT. HOREB, Wis.) — A 14-year-old suspect is dead following a confrontation with police Wednesday after an active shooter was reported outside a Wisconsin middle school, sources told ABC News.
The teen had approached Mount Horeb Middle School with what appeared to be a long gun, the sources said.
A vehicle associated with the suspect is being searched for evidence by bomb technicians, according to sources.
The Mount Horeb Area School District said police responded to help “scope out” an active shooter at the school.
The threat was “neutralized” outside the building, the district said. No injuries have been reported among students and staff, it said.
“The individual did not breach [the] entryway,” the district said on Facebook.
No additional suspects have been located following an initial search of the middle school and all students and staff are safe, the district said.
All school district buildings went into lockdown around 11:15 a.m. local time, the district said. School officials advised that students will remain inside amid the police investigation and be dismissed pending police approval. Some elementary-grade students were being released starting at 5 p.m., the district said.
“You would be so proud of our students and staff, and we’re so grateful for our first responders,” the district said.
The FBI is on the scene and assisting state and local partners, an agency spokesperson confirmed to ABC News.
Officials for the village of Mount Horeb, located about 20 miles southwest of Madison, said the community faced a “horrifying situation” Wednesday while commending the “swift and courageous” response by the school district and emergency personnel to the active shooter incident.
“Due to safety precautions taken by our Schools, the shooter was never able to enter the building,” Mount Horeb Village president Ryan Czyzewski and Mount Horeb Chamber Board chair Kara Brandemuehl said in a joint statement. “The collaboration and coordination between our community’s first responders and School District exemplified the highest standards of professionalism and dedication.”
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said he is “closely monitoring” the situation.
“Every day, our kids, educators, and staff go to school and hope a day like this will never come,” he said in a statement.
Evers said he has extended his full support to the school community “as they grapple with what has undoubtedly been a scary and traumatic day for everyone involved.”
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