Liz Welter

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

ANTIGO - An interim school district administrator said there is "absolutely no indication" Jakob Wagner was bullied, despite former classmates' description of merciless bullying he endured throughout his school.

On Saturday, Wagner shot and wounded two students at the Antigo High School's prom. He was shot by police and later died at the hospital; his victims survived. In the days that followed, some of his friends said Wagner had been bullied since at least middle school and had expressed an unusual interest in guns.

"There is no evidence of bullying in this incident whatsoever," said Donald B. Childs, Unified School District of Antigo interim district administrator. "There is absolutely no indication that was going on."

The media is at fault for reporting that Wagner was bullied, he said.

Multiple sources, including longtime friends, said in separate interviews that Wagner had been the target of bullying for years and that those incidents took place in schools. His friends were uncertain whether Wagner or his family had ever filed a formal complaint.

Elliot Mosher, 19, said he himself participated in bullying Wagner in middle school, before making amends and becoming close friends with him in high school.

Emily Fisher, 19, said Wagner was very friendly and the rejection from other students was very painful to him.

Jennifer Fischer, 18, said she had known Wagner since elementary school where the bullying began, mainly about his personal hygiene and socioeconomic status.

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin has requested records from the school district to document bullying reports, and Childs said those will take weeks to compile. He said the number of bullying reports and the results of bullying investigations will require a review of reports.School officials are working to assist police in the investigation, he said.

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin also asked Antigo School Board members for comments about bullying reports and they declined to respond. The Antigo High School receptionist directed all questions to Childs' office.

Childs has been the interim administrator for three years and will be replaced by Antigo Middle School Principal Brian Misfeldt on July 1.

Misfeldt said he couldn't comment about Wagner and bullying reports due to the ongoing police investigation.

Wagner was viciously bullied at Antigo Middle School and the bullying he suffered decreased in high school, said Jennifer Fischer, 18, who graduated with Wagner and had known him for more than 10 years. She lives in Madison, where she is going to college.

Other high school friends described similar memories of Wagner, including their own experiences of being bullied.

The district has anti-bullying policies that are reviewed each year with students, Misfeldt said.

At Antigo Middle School, the bullying policies are explained to students so that they understand what to do if they are bullied or see bullying happening, Misfeldt said.

"Certainly we know bullying happens in our schools and when we are aware of it, we address it," Misfeldt said. He also said he could not comment about Wagner until the police investigation has concluded.

The schools promote Antigo Pride, a districtwide program to promote positive behaviors and academics. It includes anti-bullying programs which are incorporated in the school curriculum throughout all grades, he said.

Students learn and practice how to intervene if they see bullying happening, what to do if they are victims of bullying and how to report a bullying incident, he said.

"When bullying is reported, the parents from both sides come in and it's discussed," he said. "The consequences are immediate and if repetitive in nature, the student (the bully) is expelled."

Childs said no students have been expelled during his tenure.

Liz Welter: 715-898-7008, or liz.welter@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @welter_liz