MOUNT HOREB, Wis. —
Witnesses recounted the sound of gunshots and the sight of numerous children fleeing in panic.
"There's just a bunch of police officers that kept like knocking on the door and making sure that it was barricaded, and our (substitute teacher) that we had was by the door ready," one witness shared. "We're all just sitting there crying and texting our parents."
Over a dozen law enforcement vehicles, including SWAT-style trucks with flashing emergency lights, were present at the scene. First responders were seen surrounding a gurney on the sidewalk.
Students Released from School Lockdown
As the district began releasing some students from other schools in the area, anxious parents gathered at a bus depot, eagerly waiting to be reunited with their children.
12-year-old Max Kelly shared his experience, mentioning that his teacher instructed the class to evacuate the school. They quickly made their way to a nearby convenience store and gas station after ditching their in-line skates, hiding in a bathroom until it was safe.
After being reunited with his parents, Kelly sat on a hillside with them, still wearing only socks as his shoes were left behind, waiting for his younger siblings to be released from their own schools.
"I don't think anywhere is safe anymore," expressed his mother, 32-year-old Alison Kelly.
Shannon Hurd, 44, and her former husband, Nathian Hurd, 39, anxiously waited in their car for their 13-year-old son, Noah, who was still inside the locked-down middle school.
Shannon Hurd received a text from Noah expressing his love, which prompted her to rush to the school, nearly falling down the stairs in her haste.
"I just want my kid," she said. "They're supposed to be safe at school, in Mount Horeb of all places."
Various schools nationwide have been exploring strategies to thwart mass shootings within their premises, ranging from enhancing physical security measures to conducting drills on how to respond to an active shooter, and even leveraging technology such as detailed digital maps. Additionally, many institutions depend on the vigilance of teachers and administrators in identifying early indicators of mental health challenges.
Mount Horeb is situated approximately 25 miles west of Madison.
