Police said three people were killed in a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, Dec. 16.
The shooter is believed to be among the deceased, according to a statement issued by Chief Shon F. Barnes and shared by NBC News. Barnes indicated that police “located a juvenile who they believe was responsible” for the tragedy in the K-12 private school. He went on to say “officers began life-saving efforts to anyone who was wounded” at what he called a “tragic, tragic scene.”
A teacher and a teenager attending the school were the two fatalities, Barnes told the press. At least two additional students were critically injured.
Buses were used to transport surviving students to a “reunification center,” a reporter said on video. Police retrieved a handgun from the premises, the police chief said, adding that the scene remains on “lockdown.”
“I don’t have any other information about those persons that have lost their lives,” Barnes said, according to a video statement shared by NBC News.
Barnes said his police officers “responded to an active shooter,” and upon entering the school, “found him down, deceased.”
Six people were injured during the incident, according to law enforcement. It is not yet clear if the deceased and injured are students, teachers, or other staff at the school.
Police said the suspected shooter was believed to have been a student at the school, NBC News reported. No further information was provided about the identity of the suspected shooter.
Police Chief Barnes told reporters that no officers fired their weapons in connection with the incident.
My sincere condolences and prayers for all the victims of the tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School. I will continue to closely monitor the situation. https://t.co/P2pMJmtsPW
— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) December 16, 2024
“This is something we all prepare for, but we hope we never have to do,” he said.
“We’re still going through, collecting evidence, collecting information.”
Barnes indicated a command station has been set up for loved ones to gather and collect information as it becomes available.
Barnes described this as a “sad day for our community, and our country.”
Courtney Rae, a 2013 graduate of the school, reached out to her parents, according to NBC News. Her three brothers and a cousin all attend the school. She said a family member said they were not injured and were expected to be reunited with family.
“I feel sad and helpless,” Rae, a Florida resident, told the press. “People send their kids to Christian school hoping its safer than public school and that things like this would never happen at a Christian school.”
This is an active story that will be updated as it continues to develop.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
