A teacher and a student were killed Monday at a private school in Wisconsin when a person authorities identified as a teenage student at Abundant Life Christian School opened fire.
Madison Police Chief Shon Burns told reporters that six people were injured and the suspect in the shooting, a 15-year-old female student, was killed.
Here’s what we know about the shooting.
When did the shooting occur?
At 10:57 a.m., authorities were called to Abundant Life Christian School, east of downtown Madison, for a report of a shooting, Burns said.
He said at a news conference Tuesday that the second-grade teacher made the 911 call. Barnes incorrectly said on Monday that a second-grade student had called him. “That was a mistake. It’s my responsibility, and I apologize and will make that clear today.”
Barnes said at the time of the shooting, officers were undergoing training to respond to similar scenarios.
“So what started as a training day turned into reality,” he said.
Where did the shooting occur?
This private school east of downtown Madison was founded in 1978 and teaches approximately 335 students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Burns said the shooting occurred in a study hall classroom, adding that there were students of various grades in the room.
Who are the victims?
Burns said a teenage student and a teacher were shot and killed. He did not provide further details about them.
Burns said Tuesday there were also questions about whether the gunman targeted the victims.
“Everyone was a target in this case,” he said. “And everyone was equally at risk.”
Two of the injured students were in critical condition Tuesday. Police said four other students and a teacher were also injured, but their injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Who is the shooter?
Burns identified the suspect as Natalie Lupnow, also known as Samantha, 15, a student at Abundant Life University.
She died on the way to the hospital from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, Burns said. The county coroner will officially determine the cause and manner of death, he said.
Police say the motive is not clear.
Burns said investigators spoke with the shooter’s family and searched the home. Her parents are “fully cooperating,” Burns said.
Burns said a handgun was recovered but did not provide additional details about it.
How are authorities responding?
Hours after the shooting, President Joe Biden pressed Congress to pass gun reform legislation that includes universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
“From Newtown to Uvalde, Parkland to Madison, to the countless high-profile mass shootings, it is unacceptable that we cannot protect our children from this scourge of gun violence,” Biden said in a statement. . “We cannot accept this as normal.”
“Thoughts and prayers without action mean more school shootings and more children dying,” said Representative Mark Pocan, D-Wis. is necessary,” he said. He also provided detailed locations of reunion sites and phone numbers for those in need.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) offered his “condolences and prayers to all the victims of the tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School.”
He said he will continue to closely monitor the situation.
