Father of teen accused in threat to “shoot up” high school says son had been suspended from school



KENOSHA -- The father of a Kenosha teen accused of threatening to “shoot up” his high school, says his son had just been suspended. However, he says his son was blowing off steam and did not know a message to a friend would soon be shared publicly.

At Indian Trail High School and Academy in Kenosha, after the school was shut down due to the threat on Thursday, Feb. 1, two 17-year-olds are now charged.

Lozamar Alexis Jr. and Tre'Shawn Moore-Thomas, are accused of the now widely shared conversation on the social media app Snapchat. Investigators say an upset Alexis wrote to his friend in Milwaukee, "I'm shooting up ITA tomorrow" -- with Moore-Thomas replying: "Go ahead."

Lozamar Alexis Jr. and Tre'Shawn Moore-Thomas



Alexis is accused of responding, "I don't care who I hit," "I swear to God I am. I'm sick of it. I've reached my breaking point."



Prosecutors say the private message was soon share publicly by Moore-Thomas. He later told authorities he did so "as a joke."

Once the post began to explode online, Moore-Thomas tried to make things right by posting multiple follow-up messages including, "No one gonna shoot the school. I repeat no one gonna shot the school. It's a joke..."

It was too late.

Kenosha police were flooded with calls from concerned parents, school administrators closed the school for the day -- and now the two teens are charged with making a terrorist threat, which is a felony.

Indian Trail High School and Academy



Friday, the father of Lozamar Alexis, tells FOX6 his son was blowing off steam to a friend. The father says his son had just been suspended from Indian Trail High School for an incident with a student, and has had ongoing issues with his mother who lives in Illinois.

Indian Trail High School and Academy



The dad says his son was being a teen and running his mouth. The father says his son did not know the post would become public. He's upset his son is behind bars, but understands why authorities are taking the matter seriously.

Moore-Thomas and Alexis Jr. have each been charged with one count of making terrorist threats, as party to a crime. Both are expected to appear in court on Friday, Feb. 9 for a preliminary hearing.

Milwaukee Public Schools released the following statement on the incident:

“We are aware of this situation and are cooperating with the Milwaukee Police Department. However, we cannot comment because this is an ongoing police investigation.”