Summary

  • Police in Wisconsin say the motive for the deadly school shooting in the state's capital Madison on Monday appears to be a combination of factors

  • But Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes says he is unable to share more on the motive while the investigation is ongoing

  • A teenage pupil and a teacher were shot dead and six others injured at a Christian private school by a 15-year-old girl, named by authorities as Natalie Rupnow

  • The alleged attacker is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound

  • Chief Barnes clarified that the 911 call came from a 2nd grade teacher and not a 2nd grade student - a detail police had incorrectly shared earlier today

  • The two victims killed have not been named

Media caption,

Police ask for help in investigation of school shooting motive

  1. Keep Abundant Life Christian School 'in your prayers', Barnes sayspublished at 21:12 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    In one of his last questions from reporters, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes notes that today's shooting took place one week before students were expected to go on break for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

    He notes that the attack happened at a Christian school, and says that during their vacation, students will be thinking of the Christmas holiday as well as those who were killed.

    "That's why I'm asking everyone to, of course, keep the Abundant Life Christian School in your thoughts and in your prayers," he says.

  2. Suspected shooter's family 'co-operating' with policepublished at 21:09 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Asked whether the police department has been in contact with the suspected shooter's family, Chief Barnes confirms "we have".

    He adds that the family is "co-operating" with investigators.

  3. Police chief: 'If you see something, say something'published at 21:07 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Chief Barnes addresses the media

    A reporter asks Chief Barnes how he will reassure children it’s safe to go back to school.

    “I think you’re asking me, ‘How can I say 100% that no child will never be harmed in school?’ I can’t,” he says.

    He says that police have procedures in place to respond to emergencies – like they did today – and teachers and staff members are committed to safety.

    “My reassurance to the public is, if you see something, say something,” he says.

    “If you know someone who may be going through a difficult time, please reach out to someone.”

  4. Police hope witness interviews will shed light on shooter's motivepublished at 21:02 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Chief Barnes again stresses that detectives would like to talk to anyone who may have seen or heard the shooting, but notes that these interviews will take time.

    "That is in process now and everyone is co-operating fully," says Barnes.

    He says that the interviews "could answer the question as to motivation" of the attacker.

    "But that's not something we want to rush. We're not gonna interrogate students," he says.

    "We're gonna give them an opportunity to come in and tell us what they saw when they're ready."

  5. Handgun recovered from scene of shooting, police saypublished at 21:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes is now back up and taking questions from the media.

    He reiterates that authorities are not yet sharing the identity of the suspected shooter but tells reporters that police earlier recovered a handgun from the scene.

    Barnes adds that the attack took place within "one space" in the school, but doesn't elaborate on the exact location.

  6. 'This does not need to be our reality' - Dane County executive sayspublished at 20:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Dane County Executive Melissa Agard

    Dane County Executive Melissa Agard is now speaking.

    She begins by saying that she received a phone call earlier today telling her that her own son - a student at the Madison school - was safe from the shooting.

    "I can tell ya, this hits you in the gut," she says, describing the call.

    She goes on to call on lawmakers "to ensure that we are taking care of one another".

    "No community should ever have to endure such a tragedy," the Dane County executive says.

    "This does not need to be the reality of our community," she adds before stepping away from the microphone.

  7. Mayor: 'I had hoped this day would never come in Madison'published at 20:54 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway wears a purple shirt
    Image caption,

    Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway addresses reporters

    Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway is now speaking.

    “Our entire community has been impacted by this tragic incident,” she says.

    She says the focus of the authorities right now is “on supporting victims and their families”.

    “I am on record that we need to do better in our country and our community needs to do better in preventing gun violence,” she says.

    “I had hoped this day would never come in Madison.”

  8. More than a dozen ambulances sent to school, Madison fire chief sayspublished at 20:52 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Fire Chief Chris Carbon
    Image caption,

    Madison Fire Chief Chris Carbon

    We're now hearing from Madison Fire Chief Chris Carbon, who begins by thanking first respondents for their work during the response to the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School earlier today.

    Carbon says 15 ambulances and several fire trucks were sent to the Wisconsin school.

    "I can't believe I'm standing here today talking about this incident," he says.

    "Within the course of 15 minutes, from first transport to the last transport, all patients were on their way to the hospital."

  9. Police ask for witnesses to provide accounts for active investigationpublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Chief Barnes closes his address by saying that the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

    "We are currently processing the scene. We are interviewing those that may have been witnesses, and we are obtaining search warrants to get additional information," Barnes says.

  10. Motivation for the shooting still unknown, police chief sayspublished at 20:44 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Barnes says police do not know the motivation behind the attack.

    "We can all agree enough is enough," the police chief tells the assembled reporters.

    He adds that more needs to be done to "prevent press conferences like these happening again and again and again".

    Barnes then confirms the school building has been cleared by police officers, adding that there are "no other threats or danger to the community".

  11. Dead include a teacher and a teenage studentpublished at 20:43 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Barnes says the dead victims include a teacher and a teenaged student.

    Six other people were injured. Two are in critical condition in hospital, with life-threatening injuries.

    Four students are in other area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries, he says.

    Barnes says this is just the physical toll – and notes that other students will be traumatised by today’s events.

  12. Police say suspect was a student at Abundant Life Christian Schoolpublished at 20:43 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    "Today truly is a sad day for Madison and our country," Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes says.

    He says that the suspected teenage shooter - who was found dead at the scene - was a student at the school.

    He adds that they will not be releasing the name or gender of the suspect.

  13. Police update beginspublished at 20:40 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Madison Police chief Shon BarnesImage source, WMTV15News

    Madison Police chief Shon Barnes has begun to give an update on the shooting.

    He says officials will not release some details about the attack, because it's an "evolving situation".

    You can follow the media briefing by pressing Watch Live at the top of the page.

  14. Madison police officials to provide an updatepublished at 20:24 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    We're expecting to hear from Madison Police Department officials at 15:30 local time (20:30 GMT).

    We heard from police chief Shon Barnes earlier who announced the death toll, which was then later corrected to three people.

    He said authorities found the juvenile suspect already dead at the scene. They also believe that the suspect was a student at Abundant Life Christian School.

    You can follow the press briefing by pressing watch live above.

  15. What we know so farpublished at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    The next police press conference is due in half an hour.

    In the meantime, here's what we know so far about this morning's shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin.

    • Police have clarified that three people have died following the attack in the city of Madison - a revision after a figure of five was mistakenly briefed to reporters earlier on
    • A further six were injured and police say these injuries range from minor to life-threatening
    • The juvenile suspect is among the dead - officers didn't fire any shots after arriving at the school at around 11:00 local time (17:00 GMT)
    • Residents have been asked to avoid the area and roads remain blocked nearby
    • President Joe Biden is yet to respond personally, but the White House says the president is aware of the shooting
  16. Community 'reeling from heart-breaking and senseless tragedy'published at 19:53 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    A local politician says the community in Madison is "reeling from the heart-breaking and senseless tragedy" at Abundant Life Christian School.

    In a statement, Dane County executive Melissa Agard says her "heart goes out to the victims, their families, the students, educators, and everyone affected by this unimaginable and unacceptable violence".

    “No community should ever have to endure such a tragedy. My administration will do everything in its power to provide assistance in the face of this devastating loss," she says.

    "To all those grieving, please know that you are not alone. Dane County stands with you, and we are here to support you in any way possible," Agard adds.

  17. How many school shootings happen in the US?published at 19:43 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Shootings are common in the US, and schools are no exception.

    Exactly how many shootings happen each year depends on how they’re counted.

    The K-12 Violence Project, run by researcher David Riedman, has counted more than 300 this year alone.

    Those statistics include all incidents where a gun is brandished or fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims, time, or day of the week.

    The news organisation EducationWeek says that 38 school shootings have resulted in deaths or injuries across the US so far this year.

    There were a total of 69 victims - including 16 deaths - before today’s shooting.

    Though such incidents understandably generate a lot of headlines, they are a fraction of the total US gun violence death toll each year, which topped 46,000 in 2023.

  18. 'We just don’t expect this'published at 19:27 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    Comments have deluged the school's Facebook page, with people sending their prayers from communities around the country.

    "Heart broken and shocked. Certainly I am praying for all at the school and Church and especially the families of those who lost their loved ones," wrote one pastor.

    "It breaks my heart seeing not even 24 hours ago that there was happiness that it was the last week before Christmas," wrote another commenter.

    "I went to a Christian school as a child & I know how close everyone tends to be there," she continued.

    "How most staff work there for years and years, forming lifelong memories & bonds with students & parents. It hurts so intensely to know this happened, to know the impact this creates."

    Another person wrote: "Prayers from Arkansas. We just don’t expect this at any school, much less a Christian school."

  19. Three dead during shooting, not five, say policepublished at 19:13 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024
    Breaking

    The Madison Police Department has just shared a correction on the number of people who died during the shooting, saying the actual number is three, including the attacker.

    During a media briefing earlier they had said five people were killed in the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School.

    "During the media briefing earlier this afternoon, it was erroneously shared 5 were deceased," the department said in a statement.

    "Again, three people are deceased. Nine in total were injured, including the three deceased."

  20. 'Prayers Requested!'published at 19:07 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2024

    The Abundant Life Christian School, where four people were shot dead on Monday, has asked for the public's prayers.

    "Prayers Requested! Today, we had an active shooter incident at ALCS," the school posted on Facebook.

    "We are in the midst of following up. We will share information as we are able."

    "Please pray for our Challenger Family," the statement continued, using the name for the school's sports teams.

    It was a heartrending contrast to the school's cheery post just 18 hours earlier: "Our last week before Christmas Vacation is filled with yum, yum, yum!"