A shooter opened fire at a Wisconsin Christian school Monday, killing two and wounding six in what the police chief said was a sad day not only for the city but for the "entire country." The shooter, a juvenile and supposedly a student, was also found dead at the scene when police arrived, a law enforcement spokesperson said. The shooting took place at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, a K-12 school with approximately 390 students.
"Please pray for our Challenger Family," the school said in a statement on its Facebook page.
It was the second shooting at a Christian school in the U.S. this month. A shooting at Feather River Adventist School in Butte County, Calif., the first week of December resulted in two injuries.
The Madison Police Department released a statement saying "three people are deceased," a total that includes the shooter. (Earlier, it was erroneously reported that five were dead, the statement said.) An additional six are injured.
"Today is a sad, sad day, not only for Madison but for our entire country," Chief of Police Shon F. Barnes said.
"Yet another police chief is doing a press conference to speak about violence in our community, specifically in one of the places that's most sacred to me as someone who loves education and to someone who has children that are in school," Barnes added.
Police received a phone call at 10:57 a.m. of an active shooter.
"When officers arrived, they found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds," Barnes said.
Officers located the body of a juvenile who they believe was the shooter, Barnes said.
Abundant Life's mission statement is to "develop students who are committed disciples of Jesus Christ through an excellent, comprehensive, Biblically-integrated educational program," according to its website. It was founded in 1978.
"Those who serve as ALCS faculty, staff, and administration share the founders' fervent hope that every student will receive an outstanding education that includes not only knowledge of who God is, but also rich and frequent opportunities to know God personally, to experience His presence, and to learn how to hear and obey His voice," the website says.
Prayer for Abundant Life Christian School Community
Heavenly Father,
We come to You with heavy hearts, lifting up the Madison community and all those affected by this tragedy. Lord, bring comfort to the grieving families, healing to the wounded, and peace to a shaken community. We ask for Your protection over every child, parent, and educator as they walk through the doors of their schools each day. Surround them with Your love, strengthen their faith, and remind us all of Your presence even in the darkest times.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
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Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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