Three people including the suspect have died following a shooting at a Christian school in Wisconsin, police said.
The shooting occurred at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, the state capital, with nine people taken to hospital in varying conditions.
Speaking at a press conference, Police Chief Shon Barnes said that officers believe the shooter, who is a “juvenile,” was a student at the school.
He said: “Today is a sad sad day, not only for Madison but for our entire country.
“Today around 10.57am our officers were responding to a call of an active shooter at the Abundant Life Christian School here in Madison.
“When officers arrived they found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
“We had officers from around the county and around the state that came in support.
“Officers located a juvenile who they believed was responsible for the deceased in the building.
“We know that a total of about seven persons were transported from the city to area hospitals for treatment.
“We know that at least four people have lost their lives including the juvenile person.”
Police later clarified that three people had died.
Credit: X/@TheTimReport
The school has about 390 students, from kindergarten through high school, according to its website.
Chief Barnes called the incident a “tragic, tragic scene” and was “something we prepare for but we hope we never have to” deal with.
He said: “I’m feeling a little dismayed. So close to Christmas, every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever.
“Those types of trauma don’t go away. Right now my heart is heavy for my community and we have to figure out what happened here and it doesn’t happen in any other place that should be a refuge for students.”
Police cars park outside the school – Kathleen Foody/AP
Medics who attended the scene were in the middle of a training exercise about a mass shooting when the incident happened and they came straight to the shooting to put their practice into effect in “real time”, he added.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation,” Madison police said in a statement.
“More information will be released as it is available. We currently need people to avoid the area.”
In a statement on social media, Governor Tony Evers said: “I am closely monitoring the incident at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison.
“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.”
