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CNA Staff, Dec 16, 2024 / 14:50 pm
At least two victims died Monday in a shooting at a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, while an alleged perpetrator who police say was a teenager also died.
At approximately 10:57 a.m. local time, police responded to an active shooter situation at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Police Chief Shon Barnes told the media at a press conference Monday.
When officers arrived, they found and began administering help to multiple victims with gunshot wounds, six of whom were transported to local hospitals. Barnes said numerous area officers responded to the attack, adding that his officers had most recently trained for a school shooting scenario “approximately two weeks ago.”
A “juvenile” suspect believed to have carried out the shooting with a handgun was found deceased in the building, Barnes said. No weapons were fired by police, he said.
Calling it a “sad day for Madison, and for our country,” Barnes later revealed that the alleged shooter was a “teenage student who attended the school,” while withholding the person’s exact age and gender and noting that the shooter’s motive remains unknown.
He also announced that of the two victims who have died, one was a teenager and one was a teacher. Two of the six injured victims who are currently being treated remain in critical condition with life-threatening wounds, he said.
Police are engaged in an ongoing “reunification” process making sure all students are present and accounted for and returned to their loved ones, he continued. A local SSM Health clinic — part of a Catholic health care system — is providing space for family reunification, he said.
Abundant Life, a nondenominational K–12 school founded in 1978, offers its approximately 390 students “academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment,” according to the school’s website.
Bishop Donald Hying of the Diocese of Madison said in a statement to CNA that he is “deeply saddened by the shooting that occurred at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison and mourn[s] for the victims of this horrible act of violence.”
“We stand united with the Abundant Life family and pray for healing for those who are injured and comfort for the families who are facing the heartbreaking loss of a loved one. In these days leading up to Christmas, may the peace, love, and mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ be an anchor for all those affected,” Hying said.
CNA also reached out to the Wisconsin Catholic Conference for comment.
This story was updated at 5:15 p.m. ET on Dec. 16, 2024, with additional information on the shooter and victims.
Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.
