The Sconi

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has mobilized resources in response to a school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. The incident occurred on the morning of December 16, 2024. The Office of School Safety (OSS) and the Office of Crime Victim Services (OCVS) are involved in providing assistance.

Attorney General Josh Kaul expressed his sorrow over the tragedy: “I’m heartbroken for the students, teachers, staff members, and families impacted by the devastating mass shooting this morning at Abundant Life Christian School. No one should ever have to experience something like this.” He added that the Office of School Safety will support recovery efforts within the community and offered condolences to those affected.

In response, OSS has deployed a Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) to help with reunification and counseling efforts. The CIRT program is intended to reduce the psychological effects of such incidents and offer long-term mental health resources as needed.

The OSS has also provided guidelines for parents on how to discuss crisis events with children. These include limiting exposure to graphic media, managing adult stress openly, shielding children from adult concerns, providing factual information without graphic details, validating children's feelings, reassuring them about safety, and encouraging open conversations.

Furthermore, resources are available for victims through Wisconsin DOJ’s OCVS Crime Victim Compensation Program. This program offers financial assistance for medical expenses, mental health services, wage loss compensation, and other specific benefits related to out-of-pocket costs. Applications can be accessed online or requested in paper form.