MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Police Department is referring criminal charges to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office after a 63-year-old off-duty security guard accidentally shot and injured himself during a football game at Wisconsin Lutheran High School (WLHS) on Friday.
Police say the guard is facing charges of carrying a concealed weapon and endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon.
It remains unclear what led to the shooting.
The TMJ4 Lighthouse Team is addressing parents' concerns by speaking to a local expert who trains private security guards.
"We heard the pop of the gunshot, and then I kind of looked at my husband because he is ex-military, he's a hunter," said Tracy Saugstad, who has a son in the marching band. "He nodded at me like, 'time to get down.'"
Saugstad and her family were enjoying the Friday night lights when the gunshot rang out during the third quarter of the game.
"I'm sure it was all within split seconds, but it felt like an eternity. There was a second wave of panic on the Milwaukee Lutheran side," she said, describing the moments of fear.
School officials say the off-duty security guard was not affiliated with WLHS. The guard was taken to the hospital and is expected to be okay.
"I could not have felt stronger or more positive about—I'm going to get emotional—Wisconsin Lutheran's response to it," said Saugstad. "They kept us safe in the aftermath of that."
Now, Saugstad is left wondering how such an accident could happen if the guard was a trained professional.
TMJ4 Lighthouse reporter Ryan Jenkins took Saugstad's questions to Eddie Silas, who trains private security guards using a 36-hour course required by the state.
"Security officers, outside of actually working for the school, are not supposed to carry on school grounds, especially carrying a concealed weapon. It's not allowed," said Eddie Silas, co-owner of Prolific Arms Gun Shop and Security.
On Monday, a WLHS spokesperson told Jenkins that the guard did not have permission from the school to bring the weapon onto school grounds.
Jenkins also reached out to Milwaukee Lutheran High School, the visiting football team’s school, to see if the security guard was affiliated with them. TMJ4 has not yet received a response.
"The chances of an accidental discharge without negligence are very unlikely," Silas said.
As more details from investigators are awaited, Silas questioned whether the weapon was being handled properly before it went off.
"Was the gun properly concealed with a holster? A holster prevents accidental discharges," he said.
Saugstad expressed gratitude to school officials and law enforcement for their fast and effective response.
"There could have been so many more injuries had they not taken control and had the right people on staff to shut down the panic," she said.
TMJ4 continues to investigate how the security guard ended up armed at the school without permission.
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