Crime
Nora Gottschalk, an 8-year-old Abundant Life Christian School student described the shooting
An 8-year-old student, Nora Gottschalk, described the terrifying moments she experienced during the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin.
“I was getting ready for lunch, so it was basically lunchtime, and then I just heard shooting,” Nora recounted. “And then there was a teacher, and she was screaming like, ‘Ahh, my leg! Help! Help!’”
Nora confirmed she knew the teacher who was calling out for help, adding, “I was really scared, and I was really sad.”
Other students shared similar accounts of the chaos that unfolded inside the building as gunfire and screams filled the halls before law enforcement arrived to evacuate them.
“I heard gunshots and screaming, and it was all really scary,” one student told at the reunification site, where families were brought back together following the incident.
The shooting triggered an immediate lockdown, with students quickly being notified that “this is not a drill.” Many students, fearful and uncertain, turned to technology to maintain contact with their families during the ordeal.
“I was texting her on my watch,” one student shared, referring to communication with their mother.
Parents, anxiously awaiting news, expressed immense relief when they were able to reunite with their children.
“There’s no better feeling than knowing your kids are safe,” said one mother tearfully after embracing her child.
The students’ firsthand accounts highlight the fear and trauma experienced during Monday’s tragedy as the community continues to process the devastating events.
Crime
Agent Nic Graham Dies After Being Shot in Lakewood Police Shootout With Suspect Gabriel Garcia on RTD Bus
LAKEWOOD, Colorado — A Lakewood police agent who was critically wounded during a shootout with a suspect aboard an RTD bus has died, authorities confirmed. The fallen officer was identified as Nic Graham, a member of the Lakewood Police Department since 2019.
Graham was among four police agents injured Thursday evening when an armed confrontation erupted near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. A civilian bystander was also struck by gunfire.
The shooting followed a police search for a suspect connected to a hit-and-run crash reported earlier in the day.
Police said the incident initially began shortly before 3:45 p.m. Thursday, following a hit-and-run collision near Kipling Street and West 13th Avenue in Lakewood.
Witnesses told investigators that the suspect ran away almost immediately after the crash. However, they provided officers with a description that helped police identify and search for the individual.
Lakewood Police Public Information Agent John Romero said witnesses were able to give officers a useful description of the person who fled the scene.
Several hours later, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a Lakewood police agent recognized the individual boarding an RTD bus near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.
Officers approached the suspect at approximately 6:32 p.m. Police said the individual opened fire on officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Responding officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as Gabriel Garcia.
Garcia was reportedly on parole when the shooting occurred.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Four Lakewood police agents suffered gunshot wounds during the confrontation. Their injuries ranged from serious to critical, and all four were transported to nearby hospitals.
Despite receiving emergency medical treatment, Graham later died from his injuries.
One civilian bystander was also hit by gunfire and hospitalized. The person’s condition had not been publicly disclosed as of Friday afternoon.
Hospital updates released Friday morning indicated that two agents treated at Denver Health Medical Center had been released. Another remained hospitalized, while officials had not provided a complete update on the remaining injured individuals.
Graham began serving with the Lakewood Police Department in 2019 after graduating from the police academy.
Throughout his law enforcement career, he contributed to criminal investigations and earned recognition for his work.
One of his notable achievements came in 2023, when he received the department’s Special Investigations Unit Wingman Award for his contributions to investigations targeting gang members.
Police Chief Philip Smith paid tribute to Graham, highlighting his dedication, compassion and commitment to helping others.
Chief Smith said Graham demonstrated those qualities throughout his career, from his early days on patrol to his investigative work.
His death has left the department and the wider Lakewood community grieving the loss of an officer who dedicated his career to public service.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation.
The shooting resulted in the death of suspect Gabriel Garcia, the fatal injury of Agent Nic Graham, injuries to three additional police agents and a civilian bystander.
Officials have not released a final investigative account of the incident. Further updates are expected as investigators establish the complete sequence of events.