KENOSHA, Wis. – A juvenile was taken into custody Friday evening after witnesses spotted him handling a handgun inside the corn maze at Jerry Smith Pumpkin Farm in Kenosha County. The juvenile allegedly fled from security officers, discarded the firearm among the corn stalks, and was eventually apprehended while attempting to leave the property. Despite the discovery of a handgun, a 30-round magazine, and suspected THC, the juvenile was released to a parent with housing restrictions.

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According to a Monday, October 12, 2026, news release from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the popular family attraction at 7150 18th St. at approximately 8:03 p.m. on Friday, October 9. Witnesses had observed the juvenile handling a handgun inside the corn maze. Concerned about the potential danger, the witnesses exited the maze and immediately notified farm employees, who alerted security personnel.

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Juvenile Flees Security, Admits Discarding Gun
Security personnel working at Jerry Smith Pumpkin Farm approached the juvenile, but he allegedly fled. Security officers subsequently detained him as he attempted to leave the grounds. When sheriff’s deputies arrived, they took the juvenile into custody and began investigating the reports of a firearm. During the investigation, the juvenile acknowledged possessing the handgun and told deputies he had thrown it somewhere inside the corn maze while attempting to escape security.

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With the firearm’s exact location unknown and families visiting the attraction, deputies faced the challenge of locating a discarded handgun hidden among rows of corn stalks. Farm employees cleared the corn maze so deputies could safely search for the weapon. Deputy Booth and his K9 partner, Riv, were brought in to locate the discarded firearm before anyone else could come across it.

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K9 Riv Tracks Down Gun And 30-Round Magazine
Riv began tracking the route the juvenile had taken through the maze. During the search, the K9 located an empty 30-round magazine concealed among the corn stalks. Just minutes later, Riv located a handgun nearby, allowing deputies to recover both items from the maze. The successful search prevented the discarded firearm from remaining somewhere it could potentially be discovered by unsuspecting visitors, including children.

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Deputies determined the recovered weapon was a 9 mm handgun. Investigators confirmed that the handgun was unloaded and that the magazine contained no ammunition. Although the firearm was not loaded when recovered, the incident raised serious concerns about a juvenile bringing a handgun into an attraction frequented by children and families.

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Deputies also recovered a vape pen belonging to the juvenile. A field test of its contents indicated the presence of THC, the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana. The discovery resulted in an additional requested charge against the juvenile, who was already facing allegations related to possessing and concealing the handgun.

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Four Charges Requested, Juvenile Released To Parent
The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has requested four charges against the juvenile: disorderly conduct while armed, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, and possession of THC. The charges were requested following the investigation, and the Sheriff’s Office did not indicate whether any had been formally filed as of Monday.

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Despite the allegations involving a concealed handgun and suspected illegal drugs, the juvenile was not held in custody. At the direction of Kenosha County Juvenile Court Intake, he was released to a parent with housing restrictions. The Sheriff’s Office did not identify the juvenile court intake official who authorized his release or explain the specific restrictions imposed.

The Sheriff’s Office also did not specify the juvenile’s age or how he obtained the handgun. His identity is being withheld because he is a juvenile. Investigators have not publicly indicated whether the juvenile intended to threaten anyone with the weapon, and the news release did not report any injuries.

Sheriff Praises Witnesses, Security And K9 Team
Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner praised the witnesses who reported the firearm, the security personnel who detained the juvenile, and the deputies who recovered the discarded weapon.

“This incident shows the value of teamwork between alert community members, event security and our deputies,” Zoerner said. “Deputy Booth and K9 Riv did outstanding work locating the discarded firearm and helping ensure it did not remain in an area visited by children and families.”

Zoerner also emphasized the importance of responsible firearm ownership and preventing minors from obtaining guns. “Gun safety starts with responsible ownership, secure storage and preventing unauthorized access,” he said. “We remain committed to keeping firearms out of the wrong hands and getting illegally possessed guns off our streets.”

The incident remains under investigation, according to the Sheriff’s Office, which said no additional information would be released at this time. The agency has not announced whether investigators are attempting to determine who originally owned the handgun or how it came into the juvenile’s possession.