CAZENOVIA - A 15-year-old student walked into a rural school with a gun and shot the principal three times Friday morning before he was taken into custody, authorities said. All the students were reported safe.

John Klang, principal at Weston Schools, was in critical condition and undergoing surgery at UW Hospitals in Madison on Friday afternoon, hospital spokespeople said.

The school's homecoming activities for the weekend - a parade, dance and football game - were all canceled, and the student was being held at the Sauk County Sheriff's Department, Sheriff Randy Stammen said.

The student walked into school with a shotgun about 8 a.m., witnesses said. A custodian, some teachers and students wrestled with the student, but he broke through, took out a handgun and shot the 49-year-old Klang three times, Stammen said.

The events struck like a hammer at a school where trees were decorated with toilet paper and there were aborted plans for the exciting fall ritual of a football game, parade and Homecoming dance.

Janitor Dave Thompson said he had watched the student come out of his truck carrying a shotgun. As the student entered the school, Thompson said he confronted the student.

"I'm here to kill somebody," the student told Thompson.

Thompson, 43, said he wrestled the shotgun away from the student after he pointed the barrel at social studies teacher, Chuck Keller. As the student fumbled inside his clothes, Thompson took the shotgun and ran to call 911.

"I said, 'Chuck, I think he's got a handgun,' " Thompson shouted.

Sophomore Shelly Rupp said she heard several shots and began to run out of the school, but she turned and saw Klang as he was shot.

"He was laying on the ground in the hallway," the 16-year-old said at a nearby gas station, where students and townspeople gathered following the shooting. "He had just a pile of blood by his leg."

Rupp described the shooter as a freshman with few friends.

Authorities captured the suspect and no students in the school were hurt, Stammen said. No motive was known and it was not clear if Klang was the intended target, he said.

"It truly is a shock. It's an extremely unfortunate situation," Stammen said. "Our hopes and prayers go out to the principal. We hope he recovers."

Middle and elementary students were sent home, and high school students were taken to a nearby gymnasium where they met with crisis counselors from area schools and spoke with investigators.

Rupp said the shooter was "just weird in the head."

"He always used to kid around about bringing things to school and hurting kids," she said.

The shooting took place two days after a gunman took six students hostage in a Colorado high school and killed one before shooting himself.

Weston School is about three miles south of Cazenovia, a community of about 300 people about 60 miles northwest of Madison. The school has 365 students in grades pre-Kindergarten through 12th, and Klang was principal for all the students.

Superintendent Terry Milfred said Klang was a well-respected, dedicated administrator, who was kind to students, staff and the community. Klang graduated from Weston in 1975 and all three of his children were graduates, he said.

"He was injured because he was trying to maintain control, protect students, staff and Weston, all of whom are grateful and safe as result of his efforts," Milfred said. "As his staff, we are praying for his recovery and we hope that many people will join us. We're anxious for his return so we can thank him in person."

Klang's father, Don Klang, who also lives near Cazenovia, declined comment Friday.

"Now is not the time to be talking," he said.

Rupp said Klang was a good principal and always listened to his students. Resident Laurie Rhea, 42, said Klang spent last weekend at the gas station washing cars for a homecoming fundraiser.

"It's horrible. All the kids just loved him," she said.

Sauk County District Attorney Patricia Barrett said she expected to file charges by Saturday night. She would not say what those charges might be or whether the student would be charged as an adult. She declined to comment on whether the suspect had a record of violence.

Click here to give us your thoughts for tomorrow's editorial on the school shooting.

For more coverage see tomorrow's State Journal.