MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A 15-year-old student shot and killed a teacher and another teen at a Wisconsin Christian school on Monday, terrifying classmates, including a second-grader who called 911 and dozens more. Police officers rushed to the small school just a week before Christmas break. Madison Police Chief Shon Burns said the student, whose identity was revealed at a news conference Monday night, also wounded six others in Abundant Life Christian School's study hall, including two students in critical condition. A teacher and three students were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, two of whom were released Monday night.
"Every child, every person in this building is a victim and will forever be a victim." "...We need to find out and figure out exactly what happened," Burns said. Barbara Weirs, director of elementary and school relations at Abundant Life Christian School, said students "did a great job." When schools conduct safety drills right before the new school year, principals always announce it's a drill, she said. That didn't happen Monday.
"When they heard, 'Lockdown, lockdown,' that's when they knew it was real," she said. Police said the shooter, identified as Natalie Rapnow, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when officers arrived on the scene and died on the way to a hospital. Barnes declined to provide further details about the shooter out of consideration for families.
Abundant Life is a non-denominational Christian pre-kindergarten through high school in Madison, the state capital, with about 420 students.
Weirs said the school does not have metal detectors but has other safety measures in place, including cameras.
Children and families were reunited at a clinic about a mile away. Parents walked side by side, some holding their children to their chests while others held their hands or shoulders. The girl had an adult-sized coat draped over her shoulders as she walked toward a parking lot crowded with police vehicles. Barnes said the motive for the shooting was not immediately known, and it was not clear if the victim was targeted.
"We don't know why. If we knew, I think we could have prevented something like this from happening," he told reporters.
Barnes said police spoke with the shooter's father and other family members and worked together to search the shooter's home. "He lost someone, too," Barnes said of the shooter's father. "That's why we're not going to rush any information out. "We're going to take our time and do our due diligence."
Barnes said police spoke with the shooter's father and other family members and worked together to search the shooter's home. "He lost someone, too," Barnes said of the shooter's father. "That's why we're not going to rush any information out. "We're going to take our time and do our due diligence."
Barnes said emergency responders, who are trained just three miles away, rushed to the school and briefed them on the actual emergency.
They arrived three minutes after the initial call and quickly went inside the building. Barnes said classes were already in session when the shooting occurred. Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm handgun, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation. Police closed roads around the school and federal agents were on the scene to assist local law enforcement. No shots were fired.
Abundant Life asked for prayers in a short Facebook post. Weirs said the school's goal is for officials to meet early in the week to provide an opportunity to reunite students before winter break, but it has not yet been decided whether classes will resume this week. Bethany Hyman, the student's mother, rushed to the school and learned through FaceTime that her daughter was safe. "When that happens, your world stops for a second. Nothing else matters," Hyman said. "No one is near you. President Joe Biden mentioned the tragedy in a statement and called on Congress to pass universal background checks, national red flag laws, and specific pass-gun restrictions. Biden said, "We can never tolerate senseless violence that traumatizes children and their families and tears entire communities apart.
" He met with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway to offer support.
Evers said it was "inconceivable" that children and teachers would go to school and not return home. The school shooting was the latest of dozens of mass shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including notably deadly ones in Newtown, Connecticut; Parkland, Florida; and Uvalde, Texas.
The shooting has stirred up a fierce debate over gun control and has touched a nerve with parents whose children grew up watching shootings in classrooms. But school shootings have done little to change gun laws around the country. Guns were the leading cause of death among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that studies health issues.
Rose-Conway said the country needed to do more to prevent gun violence. "I had hoped that day in Madison would never come true again," she said.
Evers said it was "inconceivable" that children and teachers would go to school and not return home. The school shooting was the latest of dozens of mass shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including notably deadly ones in Newtown, Connecticut; Parkland, Florida; and Uvalde, Texas.
The shooting has stirred up a fierce debate over gun control and has touched a nerve with parents whose children grew up watching shootings in classrooms. But school shootings have done little to change gun laws around the country. Guns were the leading cause of death among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that studies health issues.
Rose-Conway said the country needed to do more to prevent gun violence. "I had hoped that day in Madison would never come true again," she said.
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