A missing suicidal man armed with a gun prompted a school lockdown and police search before he was found dead in a forest preserve near Antioch Wednesday afternoon.
The Kenosha County, Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office said they were requested around 12:06 p.m. Wednesday by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to assist in locating an armed suicidal male along the Wisconsin and Illinois state line along Fox River Road.
The location is near Wilmot Union High School and Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner said he worked with the school resource officer and school administration to “do everything possible to keep our students and children safe.”
Wilmot Union High School was placed on a secure hold for approximately 45 minutes until the armed man was located.
The school went into the secure hold at 12:30 p.m. to prevent anyone from gaining access to the school.
“No students were ever in danger or at risk of being in danger,” sheriff’s officials said, adding that the secure hold was a safety precaution.
The secure hold was lifted around 1:20 p.m. and classes resumed as normal.
“The safety and security of our children and students will always be one of my greatest concerns. Any time we receive reports of someone suspicious or a threat near our schools, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department will act immediately and take the necessary steps to keep our community safe. Our Children are our future. We will do everything possible to keep them and our community safe,” Zoerner said.
Officials said the armed subject was located by a Lake County sheriff’s canine deep within the Gander Mountain Forest Preserve, 43419 West Wilmot Road in unincorporated Antioch.
The man, a 38-year-old Antioch resident, was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering a gunshot wound, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton.
A gun was recovered and the man’s death is believed to be a suicide, Newton said.