A teacher and a teenage student were killed and six students were injured in a shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, said the police who previously reported a higher death toll but later revised the information.The suspect, a teenage student at the school, is also dead, police said. The suspect used a handgun, Xinhua news agency reported.
A motive is not clear, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said at a news conference, adding that of the six injured students, two are in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, and the other four suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Officials are working to reunite students with their parents. About 390 students from kindergarten through 12th grade attend the school, according to ABC News.
Wisconsin's superintendent of public instruction, Jill Underly, stated in a statement that, "This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to protect our children and our educators to ensure that such horrors never happen again. We will not rest until we find solutions that make our schools safe."
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers wrote, "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."
The Madison Police Department refused to elaborate on the two people shot dead at a Christian school on Monday morning, stating that they needed to consult with the families of the victims before releasing information about the incident.
Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have been sent to the scene.
Senator Ron Johnson posted on social media stating, "My deepest sympathies and prayers for all of the victims of the tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School. I will continue to closely monitor the situation.".
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stated: "I'm monitoring the incident at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison closely. Prayers for the kids, the educators, and all of the Abundant Life school community as we wait to get more information, thank those first responders working to make response. "
US President Joe Biden has been informed of the shooting at Madison school.
"The President has been briefed on the school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin. Senior White House officials are in contact with their local counterparts in Madison to provide any support needed," said senior deputy press secretary Emilie Simons.
In fact, it was 322 shootings of students at US schools, this year alone; it's the second-most-shots year in all U.S. history, which counted 349 incidents since its tally began in 1966, reports K-12 School Shooting Database.
Polling in the US shows that the American public is always in favor of more stringent laws concerning firearms; however, it is still difficult for politicians to present such legislation when confronted by a strong lobby on gun rights.
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