The 15-year-old girl who opened fire at a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, killing a student and a teacher, and injuring two others, has been identified.
Authorities reported that Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, a student at Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 institution, brought a handgun to school and began shooting inside a classroom during study hall at around 11 a.m.
Both the teacher and the student died at the scene, while another teacher and five students were wounded. Two of the students are currently in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed on Monday evening.
Rupnow also suffered a gunshot wound, which was self-inflicted, and she was pronounced dead on the way to the hospital, according to Barnes.
An online manifesto filled with hateful and angry rhetoric has surfaced, with some users claiming it belonged to Rupnow. However, Barnes stated that the police have not yet been able to authenticate the document.
“We haven’t been able to verify that it’s authentic, we’re certainly aware that it’s been posted,” Barnes explained. “We’re working with the FBI to investigate the writings.”
Abundant Life Christian School, located in the state’s capital, has just over 400 students enrolled.
Rupnow’s attack took place in a classroom during study hall, where students from various grade levels were present. As the gunshots rang out, a second-grader from a nearby room managed to call 911 for help, and law enforcement arrived within approximately three minutes, Barnes said.
Investigators are still working to uncover the motive behind the shooting and have been questioning Rupnow’s father, according to Barnes. However, he stated that there is no current evidence to suggest that the parents were involved in any criminal activity.
Barnes also raised concerns over how Rupnow was able to access the firearm that she used in the attack.
“Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. … We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened,” Barnes said.
When asked about online rumors regarding the shooter’s gender identity, Barnes emphasized that the shooter’s identity was not relevant to the ongoing investigation.
“Whether or not she was, he was, they were transgender is something that may come out later, but for what we’re doing right now, today, literally eight hours after a mass shooting in a school in Madison, it of no consequence at this time,” he said.
Earlier in the evening, Barbara Wiers, a school official, praised the students for their bravery and composure during the crisis.
President Biden, responding to yet another school shooting, called for “commonsense” gun control measures to prevent further bloodshed.
“From Newtown to Uvalde, Parkland to Madison, to so many other shootings that don’t receive attention – it is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence. We cannot continue to accept it as normal,” he said in a statement.
“Every child deserves to feel safe in their class room. Students across our country should be learning how to read and write – not having to learn how to duck and cover.”
{Matzav.com}