Two Charged For Public Panic After Modified Vehicle Sparks Active Shooter Scare In Rice Lake

BARRON COUNTY - Barron County District Attorney Brian Wright issued the following press release today regarding criminal charges being filed for public panic caused by modification of exhaust to sound like gun shots.

PRESS RELEASE

The Barron County District Attorney's office has filed a criminal complaint charging Alexander W. Wuorenma, whose date of birth is September 10, 2003, with three counts of Disorderly Conduct, in violation of Wis. Stat. §947.01(1), for engaging in otherwise disorderly conduct, and Dante L. Smith, whose date of birth is June 27, 2004, with three counts of Disorderly Conduct, as a party to a crime, in violation of Wis. Stat. §§ 947.01(1) and 939.05, for his involvement in the commission of the alleged crime.

Disorderly Conduct is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both.

The three counts of Disorderly Conduct charged against each defendant carry a maximum sentence, if consecutive sentences are imposed, of fines totaling $3,000 and imprisonment for 9 months, or both.

The allegations set forth in the criminal complaint against both defendants, as reckless and alarming as their alleged actions were, do not satisfy the elements required to charge either defendant with a felony.

The charges of Disorderly Conduct against both defendants do not diminish the public panic and fear that men, woman and children who were going about their normal activities experienced on the evening of September 19, 2024.

As in any criminal proceeding, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

— Per Brian H. Wright, Barron County District Attorney

On Thursday evening, there were reports of an active shooter near Walmart in Rice Lake triggered a large emergency response from local law enforcement and other agencies. Despite multiple reports of gunfire, no evidence of a shooting was found, and further investigation revealed that a modified vehicle backfiring had caused the false alarm. The incident led to the lockdown of schools and businesses, according to a press release from the Rice Lake Police Department.

[Pictured L/R: Alexander W. Wuorenma, Dante L. Smith]