Three people are dead after a shooting at a Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, including the suspected juvenile shooter, according to the Madison Police Department.
Nine people total were reportedly injured in the shooting (including the three deceased), with seven taken to local hospitals for treatment. At a press conference Monday afternoon, Dec. 16, Police Chief Shon Barnes said the injuries ranged from “minor to life-threatening.”
No details about the victims have been provided yet, with Barnes saying police first wanted to be sure that their families were notified. Details about the suspected shooter were also not given at the press conference, though Barnes did say police believed the shooter was a student at the school. The investigation remains ongoing.
During the press conference, authorities erroneously said that five people had died in the shooting. The Madison Police Department issued a statement clarifying that three people have died about 20 minutes later.
According to Barnes, police responded to the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School just before 11 a.m. local time, arriving to find “multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds” and the “juvenile who they believe was responsible.” Officers began to administer life-saving measures to the victims before some were taken to the hospital. Barnes also said that police officers did not fire their weapons after entering the school.
Wisconsin governor Tony Evers issued a statement on X, saying he was “closely monitoring the incident,” adding: “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.”
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, about 335 students are enrolled at Abundant Life Christian School, which teaches kindergarten through 12th grade. It shares a campus with the non-denominational City Church, as well as the Campus for Kids Learning Center for infants and younger children.
This story is developing…