MT. HOREB, Wis. — One mother is sharing her family’s story of survival following the reported active shooter situation outside Mount Horeb Middle School on Wednesday.

The school district said a student with a weapon was outside of the school. The student was not able to enter the building. Law enforcement immediately responded.

The suspect was a male student enrolled in the Mount Horeb Area School District. Officials said he was a minor but have not released his name at this time. Police said they used deadly force and the suspect is dead. 

The entire district underwent hours of lockdown.

Kristin Dresen, owner of Olson’s Flowers & Gifts, found herself in every parent’s worst nightmare when her daughters, Lauren and Emma, experienced the terror firsthand.

Lauren, a 5th grader, and her classmates ran when they heard the shots and screams, while Emma, a 7th grader, was barricaded in a classroom.

Despite the unsettling experience, Dresen said she is grateful her girls are safe and that it wasn’t worse.

“This community sticks by each other, takes care of each other and looks out for each other. Everybody is hurting, whether you have a child in school or not.”

Dresen put up a sign of solidarity reading “MO HO STRONG” outside her shop to remind everyone passing by that the community is united in healing.

“So I just wanted that reminder for anybody driving through that we’re all in this together,” she said.

She said she’s also seeing the community support one another through incoming orders. She said she is busy putting together “Think of You” flowers for those touched by the traumatic incident.

She said she planned on donating some of her arrangements to school staff soon to show her continued support.