A 17-year-old female student killed two people, including a teacher and another teen student, and injured six others before being found dead Monday morning, December 16, at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, marking the eighth mass shooting in the state this year.
Police responded to reports of an active shooter with a handgun at approximately 10:57 a.m. at the private Christian school, where they discovered multiple victims with gunshot wounds. The victims were not publicly identified. The shooter, identified as a student at the school, was found dead inside the building, presumably by suicide. No officers discharged their weapons during the response, according to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation,” Madison police said in a statement. “More information will be released as it is available. We currently need people to avoid the area.”
The victims’ injuries ranged from minor to life-threatening, and officials worked to reunite approximately 390 students from kindergarten through 12th grade with their parents.
State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said, “Our hearts are heavy with great sorrow as we mourn the senseless loss of life in yet another school shooting. No community should ever face the pain of losing children, teachers, or friends to violence – especially in our schools.”
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers expressed condolences and gratitude for the first responders, while President Biden was briefed on the situation. The White House offered support to local authorities managing the crisis.
The school, founded in 1978, serves approximately 335 students and is known for its small class sizes. Abundant Life Christian School has requested prayers for what they termed the “Challenger Family” in the aftermath of the shooting.
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to assist local law enforcement with the investigation. Police continued clearing the building to ensure there were no additional threats.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, this incident marks the 112th school shooting resulting in injury or death in 2024 and the 487th mass shooting overall this year. It is Madison’s second mass shooting of 2024.
President Joe Biden once again called on Congress to “act now” and protect children from “this scourge of gun violence.”
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers confirmed that US and Wisconsin flags will be flow at half-staff across the state immediately until sunset on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
