The shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, which happened just over twelve years after the deadly Sandy Hook shooting began with a chilling announcement over the intercom: “Lockdown. This is not a drill.” Sixth grader Breken Ives described the panic that followed as his teacher quickly moved students to safety, away from sightlines at the door, NYT reported.
A 15-year-old female student, armed with a 9mm pistol, opened fire, killing a teacher and another student before turning the weapon on herself. Six others were injured, including two in critical condition, police confirmed.
“This has obviously rocked our school community,” Barbara Wiers, the school’s director of elementary and school relations told AP. She noted that students had recently undergone lockdown drills in collaboration with the Madison Police Department. “When they heard ‘lockdown, lockdown,’ and nothing else, they knew it was real.”
How the shooting unfolded
- Timeline: The shooter, a student at the school, began her rampage about three hours into the school day.
- Weapon used: A 9mm handgun was recovered at the scene. Investigators are working to trace its origin.
- Response time: Police training just three miles away allowed officers to arrive within three minutes of the 911 call. They entered the building immediately.
- Casualties: Two fatalities, including a teacher and a teenage student, and six others injured. Two remain in critical condition.
- Shooter’s death: Authorities believe the shooter died by suicide before officers arrived.
Police Chief Shon Barnes declined to release the shooter’s identity or details about a possible motive. A search warrant was issued for her home, and her family is cooperating with investigators.
LIVE: Press conference after school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin
Devastation and community response
Parents were reunited with their children at a nearby medical facility, some in tears as they embraced their loved ones. “As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute,” said Bethany Highman, who rushed to find her daughter safe after receiving a FaceTime call.
The shooting has left the school community grappling with grief just days before the Christmas break. Wiers said plans to resume classes would be decided later in the week, with an emphasis on supporting students and staff through community gatherings.
President Joe Biden condemned the tragedy, calling for universal background checks and stricter gun laws. “We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart,” he said.
322 school shootings this year
This attack marks the 322nd school shooting in the United States this year, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database. It is the second-highest total recorded since 1966, surpassed only by last year’s 349 incidents.
Firearms remain the leading cause of death among children in the US, a stark reminder of the nation’s ongoing struggle to address gun violence. For the students of Abundant Life Christian School, the impact of this day will be felt for years to come.