A 17-year-old Milwaukee student is facing felony charges after prosecutors say he brought a loaded handgun into James E. Groppi High School and chased another student through the halls last Friday. According to court filings, surveillance video and a search by an officer turned up a black .40-caliber pistol with a laser sight tucked into the teen’s waistband. He made an initial court appearance on Tuesday and is being held on a $2,500 cash bond, with a preliminary hearing set for next Wednesday.
What prosecutors say happened
Prosecutors have charged 17-year-old Devonte J. Galom with possession of a firearm on school grounds, possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, and disorderly conduct with use of a dangerous weapon, according to FOX6 News. The criminal complaint describes the gun as a black .40-caliber Glock 22 with a laser sight, allegedly loaded with 15 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber.
Surveillance footage cited in the filing reportedly shows Galom chasing another student inside the school, then pounding on a locked classroom door before officers moved in and detained him, according to the complaint.
The school and the scene
James E. Groppi High School, an alternative Milwaukee Public Schools campus at 1312 N. 27th Street, was in session when officers responded, Milwaukee Public Schools notes. Court documents list school staff and a teacher as witnesses to an altercation inside a classroom that allegedly broke out just before the chase seen on video.
Charges, bond and what comes next
Galom pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, and a judge set his cash bond at $2,500, according to FOX6 News. A judge reviewed the complaint, found probable cause and ordered that he be held for further proceedings, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for next Wednesday.
If convicted on all counts, Galom could face up to five years in custody and about $21,000 in fines, according to the charging documents.
Local tension already running high
The case lands at a tense moment for Milwaukee schools and nearby neighborhoods, where multiple weapon-related incidents have rattled students, families and educators in recent weeks. In a separate incident, a separate shooting last week sent one person to the hospital and triggered a coordinated response from police and school officials near several campuses.
This case is still at an early stage as courts and prosecutors sift through the evidence. Next Wednesday’s preliminary hearing will be the next major public step. This story will be updated as new court filings or official statements from Milwaukee Public Schools or prosecutors become available.
