A tragic shooting unfolded Monday morning at Abundant Life Christian School, a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, leaving three people dead, including the teenage shooter, and six others injured during the final week before Christmas break.
The shooter, identified as a 17-year-old female student, opened fire with a 9mm handgun, killing a teacher and another teenage student before turning the gun on herself, authorities said. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed that two of the wounded remain in critical condition, while the others, including a teacher and three students, sustained less severe injuries. By Monday evening, two of those hospitalized had been released.
“Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will carry this forever,” Barnes said. “We need to piece together what exactly happened.”
Police received a 911 call reporting an active shooter shortly before 11 a.m., prompting first responders, who were conducting a training exercise just miles away, to rush to the scene. Officers discovered the shooter dead from an apparent suicide. No police officers fired their weapons.
While the shooter’s identity and motive remain undisclosed, Barnes confirmed that investigators are in contact with the suspect’s parents, who are cooperating. Authorities are working to determine if the victims were specifically targeted. Barnes cautioned the public against spreading unconfirmed information online, saying, “What that does is erode trust in this process.”
Abundant Life Christian School, which serves kindergarten through 12th grade with approximately 400 students, had previously partnered with police to conduct safety training ahead of the school year. Barbara Wiers, the school’s director of elementary and school relations, noted the school’s security protocols, including cameras, though it does not have metal detectors. “When they heard ‘lockdown, lockdown,’ they knew it was real,” Wiers said, commending the students for their composure.
Scenes of anguish and relief unfolded as families were reunited at a nearby medical facility. Parents embraced their children tightly, with some draping coats over their shoulders for comfort as they walked past police vehicles and emergency responders.
“As soon as it happened, your world stops,” said Bethany Highman, the mother of a student. “Nothing else matters. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids.”
The tragedy has renewed calls for stricter gun laws. President Joe Biden issued a statement urging Congress to pass universal background checks, a national red flag law, and additional gun restrictions. Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway echoed the sentiment, saying, “I hoped this day would never come to Madison. We must do more to prevent gun violence.”
As the community grapples with shock and grief, Abundant Life Christian School requested prayers in a brief Facebook statement. Federal agents and local law enforcement remain at the scene, continuing their investigation into the motive behind this devastating act.
