Kenosha teenager remains in custody after school shooting threat

KENOSHA — A 13-year-old boy, police say, threatened to attack Roosevelt Elementary School from the school last week and appeared in court via Zoom on Tuesday.

The young man will be kept in custody while the investigation continues. His name and identity are not being disclosed because he is a minor.

“I think it’s good that he’s in custody. I think he should stay there,” Kenosha parent Daniel McBride said.

Kenosha parents like McBride are breathing a sigh of relief Tuesday knowing the teen accused last week of making terrorist threats will remain in custody.

“Obviously the kid needs help,” McBride said.

Watch: Kenosha teen remains in custody after school shooting threat

Kenosha teenager remains in custody after school shooting threat

Investigators say the teen tried to break into Roosevelt Elementary School on Thursday. At first the police thought he was armed. However, during a search of his home, realistic-looking airsoft guns were unearthed.

“This was a very grisly crime, carried out not just on a whim, but actually,” said Kenosha County Deputy District Attorney Trisha Riley.

Police said the teen was investigating school shootings, looking at maps of the school and taking videos of himself working with what appeared to be a gun.

Defense lawyer Terry Rose said in court: “The practices in the video, what happened in the video and what we see on the internet have nothing to do with this incident.”

As directed by the court, Rose requested a competency exam for the teenager.

“I think this is a kid screaming for help or just attention in general. Because if he really wanted to hurt people I don’t think it would be an air rifle,” McBride said.

The 13-year-old boy will appear in court again on November 22.

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