Gun Store Theft Leads to School Lockdown in Wisconsin

Schools in Janesville (WI) were placed under a soft lockdown this morning after police contacted Janesville Public Schools to alert them of a potential threat.

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32-year-old Joseph Jakubowski is suspected of stealing 18 guns from The Armageddon Supplies gun shop on Tuesday night. The lockdown comes after authorities received word of Jakubowski threatening local schools.

“Information was received in the very early morning hours Thursday that Jakubowski has been highly agitated recently, regarding a variety of political issues,” Sheriff Robert Spoden told the Wisconsin State Journal. “It was further reported that he made threats to steal weapons and to use them against public officials or at an unspecified school.”

At approximately 8:20a.m., the Janesville School District posted on Facebook, advising parents of the soft lockdown.

“During the course of the investigation non-specific information was received that lead the Janesville Police Department and the Janesville School District to take extra precautions until the burglary suspect is taken into custody,” the Janesville Police Department said in a statement. “There are no viable threats to specific students or staff within the school district.”

Police were dispatched to Lincoln Elementary School after a man was seen getting out of a car to pick up a long gun off the ground. The man seeing picking up the gun doesn’t match Jakubowski’s description.

Currently, it is unclear whether or not the long gun was part of the Tuesday night burglary.

The FBI, ATF, the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and local law enforcement agencies are involved in the investigation.

Jakubowski is described as described as white, 6 feet tall, thin build, facial hair, wearing round glasses, blue jeans and a green or blue hat.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Rock County Sheriff’s tip line at 608-755-3100.

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