A tragic school shooting unfolded Monday morning at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, leaving two victims and the suspected juvenile gunman dead. Six others sustained injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening, according to authorities.
The Madison Police Department responded to reports of an active shooter at the private K-12 school around 10:57 a.m. local time. Upon arrival, officers found a "juvenile" suspect deceased at the scene, believed to have used a handgun in the attack. Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed that no officers discharged their weapons during the incident.
"This is something you prepare for, but that you hope you never have to do," a Madison police spokesperson said. "Today is a sad, sad day."
The identities of the victims and the suspect have not been released, and it remains unclear if the deceased victims were students or staff members. The school, which enrolls approximately 390 students, quickly evacuated all individuals from the premises as authorities secured the site.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic. John Diaz de Leon, a local resident, told ABC News Live, "I never saw so many police cars in my life-just blue and red lights lining the school, lining the streets. Fire department, paramedics, everyone was there."
He added that older students were seen sprinting across the parking lot, while younger children were later escorted out in a more orderly manner, holding hands.
In a Facebook post, Abundant Life Christian School acknowledged the incident, writing, "Prayers Requested! Today, we had an active shooter incident at ALCS. We are in the midst of following up. We will share information as we are able. Please pray for our Challenger Family."
Authorities are conducting multiple sweeps of the school, including using bomb-sniffing dogs, to ensure there are no additional threats. A reunification center has been established to connect students with their families.
Federal agencies, including the FBI's Milwaukee bureau, are assisting with the investigation. The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting.
Community leaders swiftly reacted to the tragedy, calling for action to prevent such violence. Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly stated, "This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to protect our children and our educators to ensure that such horrors never happen again. We will not rest until we find solutions that make our schools safe."
Governor Tony Evers expressed his condolences on social media, writing, "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 Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson also offered their condolences, with Baldwin tweeting, "My heart goes out to all those impacted. My office is in touch with local and state officials, and I stand ready to assist law enforcement and anyone affected."
