Shooting involving 2 students near West Allis high school leads to 'classroom hold'

WEST ALLIS -- West Allis police are investigating a shooting involving two students that attend James E. Dottke High School. The incident happened approximately three blocks from the school on Thursday morning, Jan. 17. FOX6 News has learned a suspect has been taken into custody.

Students focusing on taking their final exams of the quarter this week, were interrupted by news of the shooting. Police advised staff to put classrooms on a brief hold shortly after the shooting occurred around 10:15 a.m.

"there was an announcement of a classroom hold. They can't tell us what happened," said Anthony Dickerson, student. "Don't come out the classroom, don't go in the hallways, none of that."

West Allis police say it all began with a fight between two 17-year-old students in the area of South 76th Street and West Lapham. One shot the other. The victim was taken to a local hospital for a non-life threatening injury.

Police went to the school to try to find the suspect, but he was nowhere to be found.

Witnesses say the shooting happened in an alley that was closed off by police for several hours.

"They were both good kids and all that. They just don't seem like they would do that type of stuff. I don't know why they were arguing," said Dickerson.

The school in the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District had extra counselors on hand and sent a note home to parents detailing what happened.

The note reads:

Police say some other students may have also witnessed the shooting. The identities of the students involved will not be released because they are minors.

The investigation is ongoing.