At least 3 dead in US school shooting as gunman blasts into building and opens fire

A mass shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in the US state of Wisconsin has resulted in at least three fatalities and several injuries, according to local police. The Madison Police Department is investigating the incident, with the suspected shooter believed to be a student at the school, which caters to students from kindergarten through to 12th grade.

A spokesperson for the department posted on Facebook: "Multiple injuries have been reported. This remains an active and ongoing investigation. More information will be released as it is available."

They also urged people to avoid the area around 4900 Buckeye Road due to road closures. ABC7 reports that the shooter is "down", with unconfirmed reports suggesting the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

At least three individuals were fatally shot, while five others with varying degrees of injuries have been transported to local hospitals following "life saving efforts" by the police. Footage from near the school shows law enforcement officers outside the building.

The police were alerted to the active shooting situation at approximately 10:57am local time and are still working to secure the school. The ages of the victims remain unknown, reports the Mirror.

A public safety alert was issued around 11:20am local time, as reported by NBC affiliate WMTV. The message warned the public: "Per Madison PD- Police activity on 4900 block of East Buckeye Road in Madison. Avoid the area."

A resident from the locality informed the network about hearing gunshots nearby.

Wisconsin's Democrat Governor Tony Evers shared his concerns on Twitter, stating: "I am closely monitoring the incident at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison."

He added, "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."

Republican Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson also took to Twitter to express his sentiments, saying: "My sincere condolences and prayers for all the victims of the tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School," and confirmed he would keep a close watch on developments. MPD Chief Shon Barnes addressed the media today, describing the events as a dark moment, "Today is a sad, sad, day. Not just for Madison, but for the entire country."

Data from the Gun Violence Archive reveals that in 2023, there were 18,854 deaths from shootings, whether intentional, malicious, or accidental, while another 36,338 individuals were injured due to gun violence in the US.

The event is classified as a mass shooting in the US, which is defined as an incident where three to five individuals are fatally shot. To date, there have been 486 such incidents in the US this year.