A 15-year-old schoolgirl killed two people and wounded six others at a private Christian school before turning the gun on herself, cops say.
Police say a student and teacher are dead after a female fellow student opened fire at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, about 80 miles west of Milwaukee, on Monday.
Officers flooded the school at 10:57 am after reports of an active shooter on campus.
They found the shooter, identified as Natalie Rupnow, dead from a self-inflicted gun wound, law enforcement sources told AP.
The shooter, a 15-year-old student, was pronounced dead on the way to hospital.
Two others were killed and six additional victims were rushed to the hospital with injuries.
Of the wounded, two are in critical condition.
Four, a teacher and three other students, had non-life-threatening conditions and two of those survivors were released from the hospital.
Speaking at a press conference, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes described Monday as “truly a sad day for Madison,” adding that the events would “live collectively in our minds for many years to come.”
He said that no motive had yet been given for the shooting and that no information was available about the killer, except for the fact that they were a teenage student.
Chief Barnes confirmed that a handgun was recovered from the scene and that the shooting was confirmed to “one space” inside the school.
He said that police had spoken to the family of the suspected killer and that they were cooperating with authorities.
Barnes said that the suspect was dead by the time the police arrived and that no officers fired their weapons.
Police fire chief Chris Cartman, his voice cracking with emotion, said that five engine companies and 15 ambulances were scrambled to the scene just before 11 am local time.
Chief Barnes added that emergency services were now engaged in the process of “reunification,” ensuring that all students present were accounted for and returned to their loved ones.
He said the process could take “a while,” but “unfortunately,” emergency crews have “practice” with these types of situations.
Barnes added that it wasn’t known if the suspected shooter had any previous experience with law enforcement.
Abundant Life Christian School shooting timeline
10:57 am – Someone in the school calls 911 to report an active shooter11:20 am – Public safety alert is sent out to nearby phones11:38 pm – Madison Police Department confirms multiple people are injured12:38 pm – Abundant Life Christian School requests prayers on Facebook12:15 pm – Cops hold a press conference and confirm three people are dead, including the shooter, and at least seven others injured2:30 pm – At a second press conference, cops confirm the shooter was a teen who attended the school
A public information officer previously said five were killed and five injured but the police department later corrected the victim tally.
“At this time, three are deceased. During the media briefing earlier this afternoon, it was erroneously shared five were deceased,” Madison police wrote on its website.
“Again, three deceased. Nine in total were injured, including the three deceased.”
The FBI has been called in to help.
TRAGIC SCENE
Cops suspect a 9mm pistol was used in the shooting and they’re working to piece together why the student opened fire.
The tragedy unfolded at the K-12 Christian school during the final week of class before Christmas break.
Panicked parents sped to campus to try and find their kids but were held back by police tape and dozens of squad cars.
“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute,” parent Bethany Highman told the Associated Press.
“Nothing else matters. 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.”
She felt a rush of relief after she was able to FaceTime her daughter – but was still in the dark about what happened at the school.
“We’re just as hungry for what’s going on as I’m sure all of you are,” Highman told reporters.
The police chief said his department underwent active shooter training two weeks before Monday’s incident.
Three dead in Wisconsin school shooting
6 hurt after student opened fire; suspect found dead
“Today is a sad, sad day not just to Madison but to the entire community and for our country,” Madison Chief Shon Barnes said.
“I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas,” he added.
“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.”
” It is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence.”
Abundant Life Christian School, meanwhile, released a statement hours after the shooting.
“Prayers requested! Today, we had an active shooter incident at ALCS. We are in the midst of following up,” the school wrote.
“We will share information as we are able. Please pray for our Challenger Family.”
President Joe Biden issued a statement on the shooting on Monday evening.
“We need Congress to act. Now,” he said in the statement.
“From Newtown to Uvalde, Parkland to Madison, to so many other shootings that don’t receive attention – it is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence,” the statement went on.
President Biden called for Congress to pass “commonsense gun safety laws,” including universal background checks, a national “red flag law,” and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
It comes after residents near the school told NBC affiliate WMTV they heard gunshots on Monday morning.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said his office was closely monitoring the incident.
“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,” Evers said.
Tributes have been paid to the victims, with Doc Rivers, chief of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, speaking out about the tragic shooting.
“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters. 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.”
“Not a lot to say,” he told a press conference ahead of Tuesday evening’s championship match against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Just a shame this keeps happening. Kids can’t go to school safe, and it just seems like we don’t do anything about it.”
John Diaz De Leon said he saw police cruisers speeding toward the campus.
“I didn’t know there were that many squad cars in Madison,” Leon told the outlet.
“We saw a few guys with long guns. They went into the school with a dog.
“Later on, I saw groups of kids coming out of the school into the church sanctuary.”
Madison Abundant Life Christian School serves approximately 200 families from 56 different churches in the Dane County area, according to the institution’s website.
About 420 students are enrolled at the school, which sits on a 28-acre campus and costs between $8,195 and $10,245 to attend per year.
Friday was set to be the students’ final day before being released for Christmas break.