Last Saturday night a gunman arrived at Antigo High School armed with a rifle and shot two students leaving a dance. A police officer nearby heard the shots and was able to return fire on the gunman who later died at the hospital. Both students shot have been treated and released from the hospital but authorities and school leaders acknowledge it could have been much worse without law enforcement's quick action. Today NBC26 takes a look at how schools in northeast Wisconsin are continuing to put student safety first.
The shooting at Antigo High School at last weekend’s prom is just one more reason why cops today are increasing their presence at proms across northeast Wisconsin.
When a high school kid thinks about prom, they should be thinking about the dancing, pictures and memories made.
"Getting our hair done our makeup done," says Kiley Klauer an Oshkosh North High School student who’s going to her second prom of the year on Saturday.
"Our group we're going out to take pictures at the Payne Arts Center and then we're going out to dinner," adds Riley Heider a Winneconne High School Junior attending prom tonight.
But in light of the world we live, today's cops are thinking about what they can do to keep the night from being ruined.
"Our department has been monitoring social media for the last couple of weeks to see it there is any red flags," says Sgt. Matthew Kroening. He acknowledges that by watching social media closely they can sometimes find out about a potential incident before it unfolds in real time.
The Oshkosh Police also will have extra enforcement at multiple proms’ on Saturday just in case they are needed. They will be monitoring the doors and parking lots keeping a close eye out for anything suspicious.
"They'll be expected to do extra patrols in that area whether in the parking lot or just even making walk throughs," adds Sgt. Kroening.
And like one young lady found out at last weekend’s prom, security is tightening up, and she’s ok with that.
"There was always a teacher and a cop there just watching making sure we were staying on the premise... It felt good knowing we were safe especially hearing about everything that happened in Antigo," adds Klauer.
So while teenagers across our region get their dance on tonight, hopefully some of them will find comfort knowing that some extra help is right there, just in case.
"It does for me. I trust our cops and that would definitely give me lot of comfort," says Heider.
Another thing police will be looking for tonight across our region is underage drinking. The Oshkosh Police reminds the public tonight that parents who host such parties should be aware that they will have no tolerance for underage drinking.
