JANESVILLE — Two people were arrested Tuesday night in connection with a shots-fired call that led to three Janesville schools being put on a precautionary “hold” status Tuesday afternoon.
In a release about 10 p.m. Tuesday, the Janesville Police Department said Brandon Knutson, 33, had been arrested on tentative charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, being a felon in possession of a firearm, battery, disorderly conduct while armed, and a probation violation. Also arrested, according to the release, was Jeffery Knutson, 36, on tentative charges of battery, disorderly conduct, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The Rock County 911 Communications Center confirmed Tuesday that a call came in at 2:59 p.m., reporting that shots had been fired in the 300 block of Clark Street.
Brandon L. Knutson
School District of Janesville Public Information Officer Patty Lux Mlsna said Roosevelt Elementary School, 316 S Ringold St., was put into a secure position which means that the doors were locked and no one was allowed in or out of the building, while activities inside the building continued as normal.
At about 4:20 p.m., numerous parents were surrounding the Roosevelt Elementary building waiting for their students to be released so they could take them home. The school’s normal dismissal time is 3:08 p.m.
St. John Vianney Catholic School, 1250 E. Racine St., and St. Paul’s Lutheran School, 210 S. Ringold St., were also placed on a hold for about an hour due to a suspect believed to be on foot in the area, Sgt. Benjamin Thompson of the Janesville Police Department said. Students released from both of those schools around 4:10 p.m.
According to Tuesday night’s release:
At approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday, the Rock County Communications Center received a report from an individual who stated they heard four gunshots in the 300 block of Clark Street and heard vehicles leaving the area at a high rate of speed.
Jeffery A. Knutson
Shortly after the initial call, a second caller reported observing individuals involved in a physical altercation in the 200 block of Clark Street. Officers responded to the area and began investigating the circumstances surrounding both calls. As a part of their response, multiple police vehicles came to the scene.
As a precautionary measure, St. John Vianney School, St. Paul’s Lutheran School, and Roosevelt Elementary School were placed on hold.
During the investigation, officers canvassed the area, interviewed individuals, and began gathering information regarding the reported gunshots and the disturbance. Based on information obtained during the investigation, officers determined the incident appeared to be isolated and involved specific individuals.
At approximately 4 p.m., school liaison officers and school staff began releasing students once officers had determined there was no ongoing threat to the schools.
Officers continued conducting interviews and following up on investigative leads, which led to the identification of the individuals involved.
Patrol officers, members of the Street Crimes Unit, and detectives later served search warrants in the 400 block of Cornelia Street and the 500 block of St. Lawrence Street to locate evidence related to the shooting investigation, and the two arrests followed.
“The police department appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation as officers investigated the incident while ensuring the safety of nearby students and staff,” the release continued.
The investigation continues. Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the Janesville Police Department at (608)755-3100, Rock County Communications at (608)757-2244, Crime Stoppers at (608)756-3636 or submit a tip on your smartphone using the P3 app. Crime Stoppers and P3 tips are anonymous.
