NEWTOWN, Conn. – A teacher and a student were killed, six other students were injured—two of them critically—along with the perpetrator who died by suicide in a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. According to law enforcement, the suspect, a student at the school, carried out the attack using a handgun before turning the weapon on themselves. The motive and how the suspect accessed the firearm remain unclear at this time.
In response, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“Just two days after remembering the tragedy that took my beautiful butterfly, Dylan, 12 years ago, we are still witnessing senseless and preventable gun violence in schools. Having suffered my child’s murder, and so close to the remembrance of the Sandy Hook shooting, my heart is shattered. I deeply feel for the surviving loved ones who now carry this unbearable pain, and for the community of Madison as it begins to grapple with this trauma during a season meant for joy and togetherness. No family or community should ever endure such unspeakable heartbreak.”
“Prevention is both possible and essential. In nearly all cases, warning signs emerge when someone is in crisis before an act of violence occurs. Early reports suggest there may have been potential warning signs in this case, including a possible written manifesto, troubling social media posts, and an apparent fascination with previous school shooters. As the situation continues to unfold, it’s crucial to recognize these signs and take action by speaking up and seeking help to prevent such tragedies.”
“We thank the Madison Police Department and local law enforcement for their quick response and their immediate investigation of social media use surrounding this tragedy. Insights into the social media use of the shooter can help us better understand what types of violent content this young person may have been exposed to and what they were experiencing in their life that could have led to this terrible event. We also need to know how the shooter was able to access the firearm used in this horrific act. The answers to these questions are critical to preventing these acts in the future. We cannot feel hopeless on this issue. We must work together to protect our families and communities from gun violence.”
For more information about the warning signs of violence and proven violence prevention programs and policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contacts:
Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 646-761-5579