A 15-year-old student, Natalie Rupnow, has been identified as the suspected shooter in a deadly attack at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday morning. The shooting resulted in the deaths of a teacher and a fellow student, with six others injured.
Madison police responded to reports of an active shooter at the K-12 school just before 11 a.m. When officers arrived, they found Rupnow, also known as “Samantha,” dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities believe she shot herself after the attack.
Among the injured, two individuals are in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Police have not yet determined a motive for the shooting.
A second-grade student was the first to call 911, alerting authorities to the situation. Officers later recovered a handgun at the scene. Police say Rupnow’s family is cooperating with the investigation.
President Joe Biden, who was briefed on the incident, called the shooting “shocking and unconscionable.” In a statement, he urged Congress to take action on gun violence, saying, “Jill and I are praying for all the victims today, including the teacher and teenage student who were killed, and those who sustained injuries.”
A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Tuesday evening as the community of Madison comes together to mourn the tragedy.
Investigation into Possible Manifesto
Madison police are investigating a possible manifesto linked to Rupnow. Chief Shon Barnes confirmed that authorities are looking into a letter posted online by someone claiming to be a friend of the shooter. “We haven’t been able to locate that person yet, but that’s something we’re going to work on today,” he said.
Several students witnessed the terrifying moments inside the school. Eight-year-old Nora Gottschalk, a second-grader, described hearing shouting before seeing a teacher scream in pain, saying, “Ah, my leg, help!” Nora said she was “really scared and really sad” during the chaos.
Another second-grade student, Noah, was praised for his quick thinking. While others hid under tables, Noah crawled out to close a curtain, possibly blocking the shooter’s view. “That strategy probably helped save some lives,” said Kellen Lewis, a parent of one of the students.
NOTE: This post has been updated to correct an image mistakenly associated with Rupnow.
