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School shooting scares hit home
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by Lynn Heidmann
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
It was a busy day for the Madison Police Department as two area high schools faced weapon threats Monday morning, though neither resulted in any injuries.
MPD Public Information Officer Carlos Valentin said officers were dispatched to Madison East High School around 9:15 a.m. after a student reportedly received a serious threat from another juvenile not currently enrolled in the school.
Due to the nature of the threat, the school went into a lockdown at 11 a.m. Officers were able to locate the suspect, a 15-year-old male Madison resident, later in the afternoon. Valentin said the investigation is still open, but charges have been brought against the juvenile.
"The investigation is still ongoing, and the safety of the student population, the school district and the community at large continues to be the focus of our efforts," Valentin said in a release.
Ald. Brian Benford, District 12, said he represents Madison East High School in his district and is concerned for the safety of his constituents. Similar events at both area schools is even more cause for suspicion, he added.
"It was very disturbing to hear the events of today," Benford said. "I was appreciative of the school staff to err on the side of caution, and I hope this will be the end of [the threats]."
But he added his concern for the threats went beyond his duties as an alder. As a father of a Madison East senior, Benford said he is grateful the MPD took appropriate and prompt action to ensure the safety of all parties.
"I'm greatly disturbed also as a father — this really hit home," he added. "I'm grateful of the school officials in taking the steps necessary to keep our students safe."
Members of the Madison East High School administration could not be reached for comment as of press time, and MPD officers of the North district declined to comment.
Meanwhile, around 12:15 p.m. at Madison West High School, what began as a verbal confrontation between several individuals ended in one of the suspects firing a pellet gun toward the school.
Valentin said the weapon resembled an automatic handgun, but the school was not the target in the shooting.
The shooter, later identified as Francisco Xelhua-Montes, 20, was charged with disorderly conduct.
Madison West High School administrators also could not be reached for comment as of press time.
Anonymous (October 17, 2006 @ 2:55pm):
...and Madison's transformation into Milwaukee is almost complete.
