The Madison school shooting shocked the United States, leaving survivors grappling with its devastating aftermath. An 8-year-old second-grader, who courageously called 911 during the crisis, has now spoken out about her terrifying experience as the violence unfolded at Abundant Life Christian School.

On December 16, 2024, the Madison school shooting unfolded at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. During the attack, a 15-year-old shooter, Natalie Rupnow, opened fire on students and teachers. Tragically, the incident resulted in the deaths of a teacher, a student, and the shooter herself, who reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while en route to the hospital.

In the midst of chaos, 8-year-old Nora Gottschalk demonstrated incredible bravery by calling 911. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes praised her quick thinking, saying, “We teach kids to call 911 when something is wrong, and this child did just that.”

Nora, who had been preparing for lunch in the hallway, described seeing an injured teacher. “She was screaming, ‘Ah! My leg! Help, help!’” Nora said, clutching a small SpongeBob candy during her interview. Her words reflected the fear and sadness she felt during the horrifying ordeal.