Three dead in shooting at US school

A teenage student opened fire at a private Christian school on Monday in the US state of Wisconsin, killing a teacher and another student in the final week before Christmas break.

The gunman also died, police said.

Madison police chief Shon Barnes offered no details on the victims but said other people were wounded at Abundant Life Christian School, a school with about 390 students.

Police previously said five people had died.

“Today is a sad, sad day, not only for Madison but for our entire country,” Mr Barnes told reporters.

He said police were alerted shortly before 11am and did not fire their weapons when they went into the school. Mr Barnes suggested the gunman died by suicide.

“They found the person responsible who was down, deceased,” he said.

The wounded had injuries ranging broadly from minor to life-threatening, Mr Barnes said.

“I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas,” he said.

“Every 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.”

Someone from the school called 911 to report an active shooter, Mr Barnes said. He said the police training centre is three miles from the school and staff responded from there.

“What began as a training day became an actual day,” he said.

Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official said.

“I’m not aware that the school had metal detectors nor should schools have metal detectors. It’s a safe space,” Mr Barnes said.

Police blocked off roads around the school. Federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement.

“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,” Wisconsin governor Tony Evers said in a statement.

In a statement, the White House said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and officials were in touch with authorities to provide support.

Abundant Life Christian School is non-denominational.

John Diaz De Leon, who lives nearby and attends the adjacent City Church, told WMTV-TV he heard an intense blare of sirens as police responded.

“I didn’t know there were that many squad cars in Madison. We saw a few guys with long guns. They went into the school with a dog,” Mr De Leon said.

“Later on I saw groups of kids coming out of the school into the church sanctuary.”