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By Scott Bauer
Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. 鈥� A 15-year-old student inside a study hall at a small Christian school in Wisconsin, and prompting a swarm of police officers to descend on the school in response to a second grader鈥檚 911 call.
The girl also at Abundant Life Christian School, including two students who were in critical condition, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said. A teacher and three students were taken to a hospital with less serious injuries, and two of them were later released.
鈥淓very child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. ... We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened,鈥� Barnes said.
Police said the shooter, identified as Natalie Rupnow, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when officers arrived and died en route to a hospital. Barnes declined to offer additional details about the shooter, partly out of respect for the family.
Abundant Life is a nondenominational Christian school 鈥� prekindergarten through high school 鈥� with approximately 420 students in Madison, the state capital.
Barbara Wiers, the school鈥檚 director of elementary and school relations, said when they practice safety routines, leaders always announce that it鈥檚 a drill. That didn鈥檛 happen Monday, just a week before Christmas break.
鈥淲hen they heard, 鈥楲ockdown, lockdown,鈥� they knew it was real,鈥� she said.
Wiers said the school does not have metal detectors but uses other security measures including cameras.
A motive for the shooting was not immediately known, nor was it clear if the victims were targeted, Barnes said.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,鈥� he told reporters.
Barnes said police were talking with the shooter鈥檚 father and other family members, who were cooperating, and searching the shooter鈥檚 home.
鈥淗e lost someone as well,鈥� Barnes said of the shooter鈥檚 father. 鈥淎nd so we鈥檙e not going to rush the information. We鈥檒l take our time and make sure we do our due diligence.鈥�
The first 911 call to report an active shooter came in shortly before 11 a.m. First responders who were in training just 3 miles (about 5 kilometers) away dashed to the school for an actual emergency, Barnes said. They arrived three minutes after the initial call.
Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Police blocked off roads around the school, and federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement. No shots were fired by police.
Children and families were reunited at a health clinic about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the school. Parents pressed children against their chests while others squeezed hands and shoulders as they walked side by side.
Abundant Life asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post. Wiers said they鈥檙e still deciding whether they will resume classes this week.
Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, rushed to the school and learned over FaceTime that her daughter was OK.
鈥淎s soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters,鈥� Highman said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids.鈥�
In a statement, President Joe Biden cited the tragedy in calling on Congress to pass universal background checks, a national red flag law and certain gun restrictions.
鈥淲e can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart,鈥� Biden said. He spoke with Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and offered his support.
Evers said it鈥檚 鈥渦nthinkable鈥� that a child or teacher would go to school and never return home.
