Madison, Wisconsin (AP) At a Christian school in Wisconsin, a 15-year-old student used a handgun to kill a teacher and another teen on Monday. The incident terrified classmates, including a second grader who called 911, sending scores of police officers racing to the small school just one week before Christmas break.
According to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes, the female student, who was recognized during a press conference on Monday night, injured six other people in a study hall at Abundant Life Christian School, including two very ill pupils. By Monday night, two of the three pupils and a teacher who had been admitted to the hospital with less severe injuries had been released.
Everyone in that building, even the children, is a victim and always will be. Barnes stated, “We must determine and attempt to piece together what exactly happened.”
According to Barbara Wiers, Abundant Life Christian School’s director of elementary and school relations, the pupils behaved admirably.
She claimed that leaders usually declare that safety drills are being conducted when the school rehearses them, which they had done just before the start of the school year. On Monday, that did not occur.
“They knew it was real when they heard, Lockdown, lockdown,” she said.
According to police, the gunman, Natalie Rupnow, was discovered dead on the way to a hospital after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In part out of consideration for the family, Barnes refused to provide any further information on the gunman.
Additionally, he cautioned against posting unverified rumors about the shooter’s identity on social media.
According to him, such serves to undermine confidence in this procedure.
There are about 420 students enrolled in Madison, the state capital, at Abundant Life, a nondenominational Christian school that offers prekindergarten through high school.
According to Wiers, the school employs cameras and other security measures in place of metal detectors.
Families and children were reunited at a medical facility approximately one mile away. As they strolled side by side, some parents squeezed hands and shoulders, while others pressed toddlers against their chests. One girl walked to a parking lot full of police cars, a comforting adult-size coat draped over her shoulders.
According to Barnes, there was no early indication of the shooting’s motive or whether the victims were specifically targeted.
He told reporters, “I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening.”
According to Barnes, authorities were examining the shooter’s house and speaking with his father and other family members, who were assisting.
Barnes claimed that he also lost the shooter’s father. Therefore, we won’t rush the information. We will take our time and ensure that we complete our research.
Just before 11 a.m., someone from the school reported an active shooter to 911. When there was a real emergency, first responders in training who were only three miles (5 kilometers) away rushed to the school, according to Barnes. They entered the premises right away after arriving three minutes after the first call.
According to Barnes, classes had been in session when the shooting occurred. He refused to provide the precise location of the incident within the institution.
According to a law enforcement officer who spoke to the AP, investigators think the shooter used a 9mm pistol. Since the official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing inquiry, they talked on condition of anonymity.
Federal officers were present to support local law enforcement, while police cordoned off highways surrounding the school. Police did not fire any shots.
In a short Facebook post, Abundant Life prayed.
Although it’s still unclear if classes will resume this week, Wiers stated that the school’s objective is to conduct staff meetings early in the week and provide community chances for children to re-connect before winter break.
After racing to the school, Bethany Highman, a student’s mother, received word via FaceTime that her daughter was doing well.
Your world pauses for a moment after it occurs. Highman stated that nothing else matters. Nobody is in your immediate vicinity. You simply run for the door and make every effort to spend as much time as possible with your children as a parent.
President Joe Biden used the tragedy as justification in a statement to urge Congress to enact national red flag legislation, comprehensive background checks, and specific gun control measures.
Biden declared, “We can never tolerate senseless violence that destroys entire communities and traumatizes children and their families.” He gave his support to Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.
According to Evers, it is inconceivable for a teacher or student to attend school and never come home.
The school shooting was the most recent in a string of dozens that have occurred across the United States in recent years, including particularly devastating ones in Parkland, Florida; Uvalde, Texas; and Newtown, Connecticut.
In addition to igniting heated discussions about gun control, the shootings have agitated parents whose kids are growing up used to active shooter exercises in the classroom. However, national gun regulations have not changed much as a result of school shootings.
KFF, a nonprofit organization that studies health care concerns, reports that in 2020 and 2021, firearms were the primary cause of death for youngsters.
According to Rhodes-Conway, more needs to be done by the nation to stop gun violence.
“I wished that Madison would never experience this day,” she stated.
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