Craig High School student arrested, jailed after gun threat
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JANESVILLE—A traffic dispute on the circuit that many teens drive in Janesville was the source of a conflict that led to a gun threat in Clinton on Friday morning, police said.
No one was injured.
Police arrested 17-year-old Brayden C. Kennedy at Janesville Craig High School at about 11:30 a.m. Friday, said Clinton Police Chief David Hooker.
Hooker said Kennedy was speaking to his cousin at Clinton High School earlier Friday morning when Kennedy saw a Clinton student he had encountered on the circuit several weeks earlier.
The Clinton student thought Kennedy had cut him off, and the two exchanged words, Hooker said.
On Friday, Kennedy recognized the Clinton student's distinctive pickup truck, and they exchanged words again, and Kennedy pointed the gun at the student, Hooker said.
Exactly what words were exchanged Friday is the subject of investigation, Hooker said.
Hooker said Friday evening that a piece of a gun, probably a handgun, was recovered.
The rest of the gun was ditched along Highway 26 in Jefferson County, and Jefferson County authorities were working to recover it, Hooker said.
According to a release from Clinton High School, a Janesville student threatened harm with a gun to a Clinton student.
Hooker said several students recognized Kennedy, who fled in his pickup truck, and several Clinton school staff members estimated he was driving in excess of 45 mph.
The student who was threatened did not immediately notify school administrators, according to the news release, but another student heard about the incident and informed administrators out of concern.
Hooker said he assigned an officer to watch the Clinton school campus Friday, and the school went on a heightened alert as officials monitored who entered the school.
Hooker informed Janesville police and school authorities and went to Craig High at 9:30 a.m. but did not find Kennedy.
Craig staff members monitored all entrances to ensure the safety of everyone involved, Janesville Superintendent Karen Schulte said.
Janesville officers arrested Kennedy at Craig when he arrived at school at about 11:30 a.m., Hooker said.
Craig students were never in any danger, according to the news release.
Kennedy, of 1821 Green Forest Run, Janesville, was held Friday at the Rock County Jail on suspicion of endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon and having gun in a gun-free school zone, Hooker said.
Hooker complimented authorities at both school districts as well as Janesville police and Jefferson County authorities for their efforts.