Germantown, Wisconsin, Active Shooter Reports at Kennedy Middle School

Reports of an “active shooter” broke out at Kennedy Middle School in Germantown, Wisconsin, on October 23, 2023.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating “an officer involved critical incident in the Village of Germantown, Wis. that occurred on the evening of Monday, October 23, 2023,” according to a news release from the agency.

At approximately 6:36 p.m., officers with Germantown Police Department “responded to a report of a subject acting erratically in the parking lot of Kennedy Middle School. Upon arrival of law enforcement, the subject was able to climb onto the roof of the school and two officers pursued on foot,” the news release says. “The subject discharged a firearm at the officers while on the roof, and they returned fire. A third officer also discharged their firearm. The subject sustained injuries, first aid was rendered, but the subject died on the scene.”

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had reported that a person was in custody, and there are no injuries. People in the area reported hearing gunshots.

“We’re still trying to secure our kids,” District administrator Chris Reuter told CBS-58 reporter Adam Rife at the scene.

The Germantown School District wrote on Facebook, “Due to a school safety threat at Kennedy Middle School this evening, a lockdown was enforced. Germantown Police Department are at KMS presently. All students that were at KMS are being transported to MacArthur Elementary via Riteway buses.”

The district added: “Parents/guardians, please come to MacArthur Elementary to pick up your child(ren). Bring your ID for pickup. There will be further instructions as you arrive. We will provide more updates as soon as we are able.”

Germantown police told the newspaper that an “active shooter” incident had occurred at Kennedy Middle School. Photos posted on X, formerly Twitter, show a large police presence at Kennedy Middle School.

The school is located at North 118, W15860 Williams Drive.

Here’s what you need to know:

A Witness Saw Police Officers on the School's Roof & Heard Shots, Reports Say

Sam Kraemer, a reporter with Fox 6, wrote on X that “We know students, parents and staff are locked down inside Kennedy Middle School while police are actively pursuing someone.”

He added: “A witness tells us he heard shots & saw officers on the roof.”

Kraemer wrote in another post, “I’ve talked to a few parents who told me the school was hosting a bunch of after-school activities: a poms class, color guard practice, etc.”

WTMJ-TV reported that there was a “massive” police response to the scene.

According to DOJ, “No other members of the public or law enforcement were injured during the incident. This is believed to be an isolated incident and there no danger to the public. All interactions with the subject occurred outside of the building.”

At the time of the incident, “approximately 50-70 students were inside the school. Parents can be reunited with those students at MacArthur Elementary W154N11492 Fond du Lac Avenue in Germantown, Wisconsin. Questions regarding this process can be directed to the Germantown School District,” DOJ reported. “The involved officers have been placed on administrative leave, per agency policy.”

DCI is leading the investigation and “is assisted by Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory, the Wisconsin State Patrol, a DCI Crime Response Specialist, and members of the DCI Digital Evidence Unit. All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation,” according to DOJ.

“DCI will review all evidence and determine the facts of the incident and will turn over investigative reports to the Washington County District Attorney when the investigation concludes,” DOJ says.

A Germantown School Board Member Interrupted a Live Meeting to Say There Was ‘an Incident That Is Occurring Over at Kennedy Middle School’

According to WISN-TV, a live-streamed Germantown School Board meeting was occurring at the time of the incident, although the incident did not occur at it. “We have an incident that is occurring over at Kennedy Middle School now with police presence,” a board member interrupted the meeting to say, the television station reported.

According to WISN-TV, there was also a volleyball event going on and the building was placed on a lockdown.

Police have not released further details on the Germantown active shooter reports.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Command Post was at the scene, according to Kraemer.

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