What we know about the Madison, Wisconsin, school shooting that left 2 dead, several injured

At least two people were killed and several others injured during a shooting at a Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, casting the small religious community into mourning just days before the school was going to close for Christmas.

Police rushed to Abundant Life Christian School just before 11 a.m. Monday in response to reports of an active shooter, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said.

In addition to the two victims, another six are injured, according to police. Barnes declined to provide further information about the victims.

The juvenile shooting suspect was also found dead at the scene, according to the police chief.

Here’s what we know so far.

Small school struck by tragedy

Just hours before the shooting began, students from kindergarten to high school filed onto the school’s 28-acre campus to sit through the last week of classes before Christmas vacation.

At 10:57 a.m., the Madison Police Department raced to respond to a 911 call reporting the shooting, Barnes said. Nearby roads were closed and police urged people to avoid the area.

Medics with the police department were conducting training about three miles away when they were called to the school, Barnes said.

“They left the training center immediately and came down here — and doing in real time what they were actually practicing for,” Barnes said at a news conference.

“When officers arrived, they found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds,” Barnes said.

Police also found the body of a juvenile whom they believe to be the shooter, the police chief said. The suspect appears to be a student at the school, he added.

Investigators are not sharing information about the victims, including whether they are students, teachers or parents, until their families have been notified, Barnes said.

Officers were still clearing the school and vehicles in the area Monday afternoon, “making certain that there is no other threat to this community, which we believe there are none,” Barnes said.

The K-12 school serves approximately 390 students, according to its website. The site boasts “smaller class sizes” catering to students from about 200 families in the Dane County area.

Though there have been no other threats to schools in the Madison area, police placed other schools in the district on lockdown as a precaution, according to the police chief.

“There is no threat to MMSD schools at this time,” Barnes said Monday afternoon, referring to the Madison Metropolitan School District.

School asks for prayers

Abundant Life Christian School posted a statement online asking for prayers after the shooting.

“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,” the school posted.

The school is scheduled to be closed for the Christmas holiday starting next week and had festive activities planned for its students in the coming days, including an Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, according to its website.
Investigation is underway

Federal and local investigators are still working to determine the timeline of events, the suspect’s motive and details about the firearm used in the shooting.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is at the scene and will be doing a trace on the firearm to determine its origin, according to CNN correspondent Josh Campbell.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting, a White House spokesperson said.

“Senior White House officials are in touch with local counterparts in Madison to provide support as needed,” senior deputy press secretary Emilie Simons said.

The Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, marks at least the 83rd school shooting of 2024, surpassing 2023 for the most school shootings in a single year since CNN began tracking such shootings in 2008. The total number of school shootings CNN counted in 2023 was at least 82.

Of the 83 school shootings this year, 56 have been reported on K-12 campuses and 27 on university and college campuses. The deadliest school shooting of the year was in Winder, Georgia, where four victims were left dead at Apalachee High School.