(NewsNation) — More than 12 years on from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, a former police captain had hoped he would no longer have to discuss the deaths of children from a school shooting.
Christopher Vanghele, Newtown’s police former captain during the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut, joined “NewsNation Now” to discuss the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where three people died.
Madison police said the three were a teacher, a teenage student and the teenage suspect. Two other students are currently hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
“You hope that it doesn’t happen again … but unfortunately, that’s not the reality,” Vanghele said.
“Between [Sandy Hook] and now, we’ve had hundreds of school shootings, and once again, a community has a great loss,” he continued.
The K-12 school has roughly 300 students on a 28-acre campus with close to 60 staff members. This was the final week of school before Christmas break.
“It should not be happening at a place where kids are supposed to take refuge,” Vanghele added. “So right now, my hearts go out our house go out to the families, to the people that are affected, and, of course, to the law enforcement officers that also have to deal with what they’ve seen today for the rest of their careers and the rest of their lives.”
Officials encourage anyone who needs mental health support due to the shooting or coverage to reach out to 988 via phone or text to be connected to resources.