Amid announcements about lunch menus, fundraisers, and Christmas concerts, Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, posted, “Prayers Requested!” It was the scenario so many teachers and parents fear: a shooter on campus.
By mid-morning on Monday, just days before Christmas vacation, two people had been killed, seven injured, and the suspect—believed to be a student—found dead, according to police.
“I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas,” said Madison police chief Shon Barnes at a press conference shortly after the shooting. “Every child, every person in that building is a victim, and will be a victim forever. These types of trauma don’t just go away.”
This would be the most casualties in a shooting at a Christian school since the 2023 shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, where six were killed, including three 9-year-olds.
Madison police did not share details on the victims, saying they needed to notify relatives. Barnes said police did not fire a shot in their response. They were busy bringing bomb-sniffing dog to do a secondary clearing of the school building and had set up a reunification site for families nearby.
“My heart is heavy for my community,” said Barnes.
The school wrote on Facebook, “Today, we had an active shooter incident at ALCS. We are in the midst of following up. We will share information as we are able. Please pray for our Challenger Family.”
The K–12 school shares its a 28-acre campus with City Church, a nondenominational church that the school describes as a parent ministry, as well as Campus for Kids, another City Church ministry that provides preschool and afterschool care . Abundant Life started in 1978 with a vision of “providing academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment,” according to the school website.
It has an enrollment of about 390 students, is accredited through the Association of Christian Schools International, and belongs to a Christian school network in Wisconsin called Impact Christian Schools.
“We are committed to developing the whole person: intellectually, spiritually, socially, and physically,” wrote principal Doug Butler on the school website.
The school had a Christmas concert last week, where children sang, “Glory be to you alone.” The students were supposed to have an Ugly Christmas Sweater Day this Friday.
“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,” said Wisconsin Gov. Tony Ever, posting on X.
Police will give more updates at a press conference later Monday afternoon.
This is the second school shooting at a Christian school this month. A gunman shot and wounded two kindergartners at a Seventh-day Adventist school in rural California on December 5, and then killed himself. The boys, 5 and 6 years old, were in critical condition but are recovering.
With reporting by Kate Shellnutt.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
The post Shooting at Christian School in Madison Leaves Three Dead, Seven Injured appeared first on Christianity Today.
