December 16, 2024, 11:29 PM
December 16, 2024, 11:29 PM
At least 3 people died and 6 others were injured this Monday in a shooting at a school in Wisconsin, in the United States, according to local police.
Although the authorities did not make public the identity of the attacker, CNN and the AP agency reported that it was a 17-year-old teenager, who was found dead at the scene of the events, the Abundant Life Christian school in Madison. .
According to the city’s police chief, Shon Barnes, a teacher and a student were killed in the shooting, and six other people were injured.
The authorities do not know the motivations for the attack.
“I feel dismayed now, so close to Christmas,” Barnes said during a statement to the press. “Every child, every person in that building, is a victim and will be a victim forever. This type of trauma does not go away“.
“My heart is heavy for Madison and we have to come together as a community and find out what happened here and make sure it doesn’t happen anywhere else that should be a haven for students in our community.”
Barbara Wiers, director of school relations, said the school had conducted shooting training earlier this year.
He said that while the school does not have a permanent police officer, the doors to all classrooms are automatically closed and anyone who wants to enter the campus must be let in through the main entrance.
The school has about 400 students serving kindergarten through high school.
The governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, regretted what happened and assured that he was closely monitoring the situation.
“We are praying for the children, educators, and the entire Abundant Life school community. while we wait for more information and thank the first responders who are working quickly to respond,” he wrote on X.
State congressmen also reacted to the news. “My heart goes out to everyone affected,” said Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
“My deepest condolences and prayers go out to all the victims of the tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School,” said Republican Senator Ron Johnson.
For her part, the mayor of Madison assured that the focus of the authorities at this moment is “supporting the victims and their families.”
“We just didn’t expect this”
The school’s Facebook profile has received dozens of comments from people sending their prayers from communities across the country.
“Prayers from Arkansas. We just didn’t expect this at any school, much less a Christian school,” one user noted.
“Heartbroken and shocked. I am certainly praying for everyone at the school and the Church and especially for the families of those who lost their loved ones,” wrote one pastor.
“It breaks my heart to see that less than 24 hours ago there was happiness because it was the last week before Christmas,” one user wrote. “I went to a Christian school as a child and I know how close everyone there tends to be,” she added.
“Most of the staff work there for years and years, forming lifelong memories and bonds with students and parents. It hurts deeply to know that this happened, to know the impact that this creates“said another.
The K-12 Violence Project, led by researcher David Riedman, reports that more than 300 shootings have occurred in the United States this year alone.
For its part, the EducationWeek organization claims that 38 school shootings have caused deaths or injuries in the country so far this year.
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