A 15-year-old female student opened fire at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin.
The shooting resulted in the deaths of a teacher and a teenage student, while the shooter herself died from what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The incident unfolded during a study hall session, with students from mixed grades present in the classroom. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed that officers responded to an active shooter call at 10:57 a.m., finding multiple victims with gunshot wounds upon arrival. "Today is a sad, sad day," Barnes remarked, emphasizing the impact on both the local community and the nation.
In addition to the fatalities, six other individuals were injured, including two students who remain in critical condition. A teacher and three other students sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The police are still investigating the motive behind the attack, with Chief Barnes stating, "We’re still working on a motive, trying to determine why this happened."
The school community and local residents have been left in shock. John Diaz de Leon II, a neighbor living close to the school, described hearing multiple sirens and realizing something was amiss. "Not one, not two, but three and then more sirens approached," he recounted.
The response from law enforcement was swift, with police swarming the shooter's neighborhood shortly after the incident.
Residents reported seeing police presence, including a SWAT truck, as officers conducted their investigation.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation, and senior White House officials are in contact with local authorities to provide support.
Meanwhile, the FBI is assisting local law enforcement in the ongoing investigation. Barbara Wiers, the school's director of elementary and school relations, praised the students' response during the crisis. "They handled themselves magnificently," she said, noting the importance of drills in preparing for such emergencies.
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