More than $200K raised for Abundant Life community after school shooting

Donations have been pouring in during the weeks since a shooter opened fire at Madison’s Abundant Life Christian School, leaving three people dead.

Just over 1,400 donors have contributed a total of $243,460 to an emergency recovery fund, a spokesperson for the United Way of Dane County said early Tuesday.

The United Way of Dane County is overseeing the fund on behalf of the private pre-K-12 school. One hundred percent of the proceeds are going to the school community, with priority given to families who have lost loved ones.

After that, funds will go toward the medical expenses of the people who were injured. The third priority will be meeting the mental health needs of the school community, according to a letter from Abundant Life’s principal.

Police say a 15-year-old shooter killed herself after fatally shooting 14-year-old Rubi Vergara, another student, and 43-year-old Erin West, who worked as a teacher.

2 students in fair condition after battling life-threatening injuries

Two teenage students have been battling life-threatening injuries but are now in “fair” condition at American Family Children’s Hospital, a UW Health spokesperson said.

Four other people suffered injuries that were not life-threatening after a high schooler who attended the east side school opened fire during a study hall on Dec. 16.

Police say the shooter brought two handguns to the school but only fired one of them. Authorities have not yet released information about the origin of those guns, citing an ongoing criminal investigation.

On Monday, three weeks after the shooting took place, customers waited in long lines for burgers and cheese curds after scores of Culver’s restaurants across Wisconsin held a fundraiser, donating a portion of their profits to the Abundant Life recovery fund.

Culver’s is not releasing numbers from that event, but the new donations will eventually be reflected in the fund’s total, a United Way spokesperson said.

On Thursday, two Texas Roadhouse locations in Madison are hosting another fundraiser with 100 percent of the profits set to benefit the Abundant Life recovery fund.