A devastating school shooting occurred at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, leaving three people dead, including a teacher and a teenage student, and six others injured. The attacker, identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, also known as Samantha, was found dead at the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

According to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes, the shooting occurred around 11:00 a.m. local time, with the attacker opening fire in a study hall with students of mixed grades. A second-grade student, aged seven or eight, was the first to call in the active shooter report. Barnes praised the students for handling the situation bravely, saying, "They were clearly scared, but they knew it was real when they heard 'lockdown, lockdown'." The school had conducted active shooter training earlier this year, which the students were able to put into practice during the attack.

The victims include a teacher and a teenage student, whose names have not been released. Two students are in critical but stable condition in the hospital, facing life-threatening injuries, while four others were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, two of whom have since been released. Authorities have appealed for witnesses to come forward to shed light on the attacker's motive. Barnes emphasized that every child in the building is a victim and will be forever affected by the incident.

The shooting has sparked widespread outrage and condolences, with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers ordering flags to fly at half-mast on state buildings. President Joe Biden released a statement, calling the shooting "shocking and unconscionable," and urging Congress to act immediately on legislation to prevent gun violence. The FBI and other federal and local law enforcement officials responded to the scene, with 15 ambulances and emergency officials attending to the victims.

The Abundant Life Christian School, with around 400 students ranging from kindergarten to high school, remains closed while police continue their investigation. The school posted on Facebook, asking for prayers for the "Challenger Family," receiving hundreds of supportive comments. This tragic incident highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in the US, with over 300 shootings occurring in schools this year, according to the K-12 Violence Project. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the need for urgent action to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.