MADISON, Wis. — Three people are dead, including a juvenile shooter who attended the school. Six others were sent to area hospitals for injuries after a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School at 4901 E. Buckeye Road in Madison, Wis., the Madison Police Department said Monday afternoon.
Madison police previously erroneously said that five people were deceased and five were injured during a press conference. They have since corrected those numbers. However, these numbers could be updated as the investigation continues.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said police responded to reports of an active shooting at Abundant Life Christian School at 10:57 a.m. Barnes said someone from the school called 911 to report the shooting.
Upon arrival, police found multiple people were injured from gunshot wounds. In accordance with protocol, Barnes said police worked to immediately “stop the killing, stop the dying and find out who’s doing this.”
Barnes said police identified a teenager who was a student at Abundant Life Christian School who they believed to be the shooter. The student was deceased when officers found them. Police did not fire any weapons, according to Barnes.
“They found the person responsible who was down, deceased,” he said.
Barnes said officials would not disclose the age, gender or other identifying information about the shooter at this time.
"As difficult as today is, that's still someone's child that's gone … We wanna make sure that we can ensure as much cooperation as [possible]," he said.
Barnes said a handgun was recovered from the crime scene. Police said a motive was unknown at this time.
“I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,” he said.
Barnes said detectives were, “working hard to find as many answers as we can.”
First responders began administrating life-saving measures to all victims at the school once they arrived. One of the deceased victims was a teacher at the school; the other deceased victim was a teenage student.
Injured people have been transported to local hospitals for treatment. Injuries ranged from “minor” to “life-threatening.” Barnes did not disclose if they were students, staff or other community members, as officials are still working to notify family members.
Officials said of the six people injured, two of them are in the hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. The other four people who were injured were taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.
Lisa Adams, a spokesperson for SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, said the hospital has received patients from the shooting but declined to provide further details.
“We are praying for all affected by today’s tragic incident at Abundant Life Christian School and our community as a whole. We are grateful for the first responders who acted swiftly today,” she said. “SSM Health is dedicated to serving our community. We remain committed to providing support and assistance in any way we can.”
Emily Greendonner, a spokesperson for UW Health, said it is also receiving patients from the shooting and setting up areas for patients’ families. UW Health is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin.
Barnes said the school has been cleared and there is no threat to the community at this time.
Police are still on scene, working to gather evidence and additional information; officials said the scene is active and the investigation is ongoing. The crime scene has been locked down and is being processed. People have been asked to avoid the area. Nearby roads have been blocked off along 4900 Buckeye Road.
Officials said a reunification center has been established at the SSM Health Dean Medical Group at 1821 S. Stoughton Road in Madison. Officials are making sure that everyone who was in the school building is present and accounted for and then returning them to their families at the reunification center.
SSM Health Dean Medical Group said all operations at that location will be withheld for the rest of the day on Monday, Dec. 16. Staff will reach out to patients to reschedule any appointments. The public has been asked to avoid the area.
Bethany Highman's daughter attends Abundant Life Christian School. Highman was waiting to get to her daughter at the reunification center Monday afternoon. While she said she spoke to her daughter on the phone, she has not been able to see her in person yet.
Highman said it is surreal because you never expect to go through this even though it does happen.
“I bring my daughter to school knowing well that this happens in the world. That people are struggling. And I pray for my daughter’s safety and I pray for the entire school’s safety. I pray for the hearts of the students, the teachers, the staff members. It’s a very real thing," she said.
Highman’s world stopped when she got the call about the shooting.
“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters. There’s nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids," Highman said.
Robert Nelson is a dad of two students who attend Abundant Life Christian School. He said he dropped them off this morning before heading into work. Then he got the scariest text of his life.
“I got a text message from my daughter, Olive, who said she heard what sounded like gunshots and that their school was on lockdown,” Nelson said.
Nelson was also at the reunification center, waiting to pick up his son and daughter.
“I’m in shock, still standing here, looking at the police presence. I was inside the clinic a few minutes ago. It is packed full of people with questions and no answers,” he said. “But emotionally, for me, I’m in shock.”
Nelson said he and the mother of his two children who attend Abundant Life Christian School have already decided their children will not return to the school after today.
“We have already made the decision that the kids won’t be going back to the school and made the decision that they will be homeschooled for the rest of the year,” he said. “But we have been on the phone with a counselor and getting stuff lined up that way, in terms of getting professional help for them to talk to,” he explained.
Barnes, a father himself, said schools should be a safe place and refuge for students.
“To be honest with you, I’m feeling a little dismayed now. So close to Christmas. Every child, every person in that building, is a victim and will be a victim forever. This kind of trauma just don’t go away … My heart is heavy for my community. My heart is heavy for Madison,” Barnes said.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, Evers is ordering U.S. and Wisconsin flags to be flown at half-staff statewide, as a mark of respect for victims of the school shooting. Flags will be flown at half-staff beginning immediately, through Sun. Dec. 22 at sunset. The department said an executive order is forthcoming.
“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,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.
In a statement, the White House said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and officials were in touch with local authorities to provide support.
Other Madison schools were placed on lockdown, but police have determined there is no threat to Madison Metropolitan School District schools at this time.
Officers from around the county and state assisted Madison police. Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have responded to the scene to assist local law enforcement.
Barnes said officers train quarterly for active shooter situations. The last training Madison police officers underwent was two weeks ago.
Barnes called this a “sad day for our community and for our country,” and said, “we have to do a little bit better.”
“Our hearts are heavy with great sorrow as we mourn the senseless loss of life in yet another school shooting," said State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly in a statement. "No community should ever face the pain of losing children, teachers, or friends to violence – especially in our schools. Our schools are meant to be safe places."
Abundant Life Christian School is nondenominational and has about 390 students, from kindergarten through high school, according to its website. This was the last week of classes before students went on Christmas break. Barnes said he was unaware if there were metal detectors at the school.
“I’m not aware that the school had metal detectors nor should schools have metal detectors. It’s a safe space,” Barnes said. He also said he could not speak to how the school staff responded at this time.
The school asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post.
“I didn’t know there were that many squad cars in Madison. We saw a few guys with long guns. They went into the school with a dog,” John Diaz De Leon, who lives nearby and attends the adjacent City Church, said. “Later on I saw groups of kids coming out of the school into the church sanctuary.”
Monday's was the the latest among dozens of school shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in Newtown, Connecticut, Parkland, Florida, and Uvalde, Texas.
The shootings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to doing active shooter drills in their classrooms.
But school shootings have done little to move the needle on national gun laws. Firearms were the leading cause of death among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues.
Madison officials said anyone who needs mental health assistance or support during this time can call or text 988 for help. For more resources, click here, or call 211.
"Please know that you're not alone. Dane County stands with you ... Please reach out and ask for help," Dane County Executive Melissa Agard said.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
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