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Concerned student reaches out to police, helps thwart possible violence at Oconomowoc H.S.
Concerned student reaches out to police, helps thwart possible violence at Oconomowoc H.S.
OCONOMOWOC -- Oconomowoc police say a concerned student reached out to police -- and helped thwart possible violence at Oconomowoc High School. That concerned student informed police of text messages she had received from a classmate, indicating he planned to bring a gun to school to shoot students this past Monday, November 9th -- and then commit suicide.
Police were contacted by the concerned student on Saturday, November 7th.
Police then looked at several text messages that confirmed the intentions of the male student. That student was out of town at the time the text messages were received, according to police.
"He was referring that he was going to shoot up the school," Oconomowoc Police Chief David Beguhn said. "The text messaging involved that he was forewarning her not to go to school on Monday because he was going to take a gun to school and shoot up the school."
On Sunday, that student returned to the area, and he was interviewed by investigators with his parents.
"After some discussion it was decided to take him into protective custody and have him sent to a mental health facility for an evaluation," Chief Beguhn said.
The 15-year-old student was taken into protective custody -- and placed into a mental health facility for evaluation.
Police say there was a weapon in the boy's home -- owned by an adult. That weapon is now with police.
Oconomowoc High School
"We don't believe anybody else was involved. This was one student and it's our hope that the young man gets the help that he needs," Chief Beguhn said.
Police reached out to school officials regarding the threats allegedly made by this 15-year-old student.
Classes went on as scheduled on Monday.
Right now, police are more focused on getting this young man the help he needs, than they are on criminal charges.
Police have sent a report to the district attorney for review.
School district officials say when a threat like this is made, the student is immediately suspended and could face expulsion.
The following letter was sent to parents by the Oconomowoc High School principal:
Oconomowoc Area School District officials have issued this statement:
In a statement to FOX6 News, Oconomowoc police said: