On Monday, October 23, 2023, in Germantown, Wisconsin, a man was shot and killed atop Kennedy Middle School after he opened fire on police.
Kennedy Middle School became the focal point for the Germantown Police Department around 6:30 pm when they received alerts about a man behaving strangely in the parking lot. Notably, the man, driving a vehicle with non-Wisconsin license plates, did not seem to have any link to the Germantown community.
Earlier that day, this individual had been spotted at a Germantown car repair shop displaying erratic behavior. Later, he made his way to Kennedy Middle School. At that time, the school was occupied by roughly 70 students and 20 adults engaged in after-school programs. He tried to gain entry but was barred by the locked doors. He then ascended to the roof and began firing at the police.
Responding to the threat, three officers returned fire, hitting the man. Even after being administered first aid, he was declared dead on-site. Fortunately, no one else was injured. The students inside were put on lockdown for their protection.
A seventh-grade student, Samantha Scherdin, was in the school at the time. She recounted, “There was a lot going on. My friends and I huddled together, shedding tears. We were instructed to stay silent. The sounds of gunshots and shouting reached us.”
Promptly, the school district arranged for the students to be moved to MacArthur Elementary School, a nearby school. Parents were guided to bring identification for child pickup. By the morning on October 24, all students and school personnel were safely with their families.
Throughout this episode, the school district provided updates via social media. They affirmed that the incident was isolated and that the community was safe. They emphasized that all events with the gunman took place outside the school.
In the aftermath, Kennedy Middle School was shut down on Tuesday. The Department of Justice began its investigation, and the involved officers were given administrative leave, following usual protocol.
