MADISON, Wis.—A teenage student opened fire Monday at a private Christian school in Wisconsin, killing a teacher and another teen during the final week before Christmas break. The shooter also died, police said.
The shooter also wounded others at Abundant Life Christian School, including two students who were in critical condition, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said.
“I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas,” Barnes said. “Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. … We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened.”
The shooter was a 17-year-old female student, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.
Police said the shooter apparently was dead by suicide when officers arrived.
Abundant Life is a nondenominational Christian school—kindergarten through high school—with approximately 390 students in Madison, the state capital. After the shooting, students were led next door to City Church where buses took them elsewhere to be reunited with families.
Meanwhile, nine public schools in Madison were locked down for a few hours as a precaution.
“As difficult as today is, that’s still someone’s child that’s gone,” the chief said.
A motive for the shooting was not immediately known, he added.
“I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,” Barnes said.
Someone from the school called 911 to report an active shooter shortly before 11 a.m. First responders who were in training just 3 miles away dashed to the school for an actual emergency, Barnes said.
Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
“I’m not aware that the school had metal detectors nor should schools have metal detectors. It’s a safe space,” Barnes said.
Police blocked off roads around the school. Federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement.
Abundant Life asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post.
Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, rushed to the school and learned over FaceTime that her daughter was OK.
“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters,” Highman said. “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.”
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.
By Alanna Durkin Richer, Ed White and Josh Funk