A student and a teacher were fatally gunned down by a shooter who was reportedly a female teenage student and turned the weapon on herself after the massacre.
At least three people are dead after gunfire broke out at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin, shortly before 11am on Monday, according to the Madison Police Department.
Police believe the shooter was a student at the school in Madison. The 17-year-old female is believed to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a law enforcement source told the Associated Press on Monday evening.
Six others, beside the student and teacher who were killed, were injured, said Madison police Chief Shon Barnes. Two of them are students in critical condition.
‘Officers located a juvenile who they believe was responsible for this deceased in the building,’ said Barnes.
The police chief declined to reveal her identity in part to respect her family.
Police initially said that five people killed, but later corrected the figures.
‘During the media briefing earlier this afternoon, it was erroneously shared 5 were deceased,’ stated the police department.
‘Again, three people are deceased. Nine in total were injured, including the three deceased.’
The mass shooting happened on the last week of classes before Christmas break.
Barnes said that ‘today is a sad, sad day’.
‘Every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. These types of traumas don’t go away,’ Barnes said.
‘Right now my heart is heavy for my community. My heart is heavy for Madison.’
Barnes declined to immediately disclose whether the victims were students, teachers or staff, pending notification to their families.
The school at the state capital serves roughly 390 students from kindergarten through high school, its website states.
Abundant Life Christian School in a Facebook post wrote: ‘Prayers Requested!’
‘Today, we had an active shooter incident at ALCS. We are in the midst of following up. We will share information as we are able,’ stated the message.
‘Please pray for our Challenger Family.’
Barbara Wiers, who is director of elementary and school relations for the campus, said students ‘handled themselves magnificently’ during the lockdown.
Medics with the police department were training at a facility about three miles from the school and quickly responded, ‘doing in real time what they were actually practicing for’, Barnes said.
The first responders provided ‘life-saving measures’ to at least seven people before they were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Roads near the 4900 block of Buckeye Road were closed amid an investigation.
‘This remains an active and ongoing investigation,’ stated Madison police earlier.
‘More information will be released as it is available. We currently need people to avoid the area.’
Governor Tony Evers stated: ‘We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond.’
A spokesperson for the Madison Metropolitan School District said thatElvehjem Elementary School, Sennett Middle School and La Follette High School were placed on secure hold due following reports of the shooting at Abundant Life.
Authorities soon said that there were not other threats to schools and the community.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is working with the police department to determine how the shooter got a hold of the handgun. In Wisconsin, 17-year-olds typically cannot possess a gun legally.
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