US: Wisconsin School Shooting Death Count Adjusted to 2
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New York, Dec 17 (NationPress) A teacher and a teenage student lost their lives, while six other students sustained injuries in a shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School located in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday. The police had initially stated a higher number of fatalities but later updated their report.
The shooter, who was also a teenage student at the same school, is deceased, according to the authorities. The suspect employed a handgun, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The motive for the incident remains unclear, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes disclosed during a press conference. Among the six injured students, two are reported to be in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, while the remaining four sustained injuries that are not life-threatening.
Officials are actively working to reunite the students with their parents. The school serves approximately 390 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, as per ABC News.
Jill Underly, Wisconsin's superintendent of public instruction, emphasized the urgent need for change, stating, "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 expressed his concern, writing, "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 swiftly to respond."
The Madison Police Department refrained from revealing details about the two individuals who lost their lives during the shooting at the Christian school on Monday morning, citing the necessity of notifying the victims' families first.
Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also involved in the response.
Senator Ron Johnson expressed his condolences via social media, stating, "My sincere condolences and prayers for all the victims of the tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School. I will continue to closely monitor the situation."
President Joe Biden has been updated on the situation concerning the shooting at the Madison school.
"The President has been briefed on the school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin. Senior White House officials are in contact with local representatives in Madison to offer support as needed," stated Senior Deputy Press Secretary Emilie Simons.
This year alone, there have been 322 school shootings in the United States, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database, marking the second-highest total since 1966, only surpassed by last year's total of 349 shootings.
Polling data consistently shows that the American populace advocates for stricter gun laws; however, lawmakers have faced challenges in enacting legislation due to a powerful pro-gun lobbying presence.
