A teenage student at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, opened fire on Monday killing two victims and injuring several others.
Wisconsin Police confirmed her identity as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha. She was a pupil at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison – and had been at school since 8am on the morning of the rampage.
The bloodbath resulted in three fatalities- one student, one teacher and Rupnow herself – and six others transported to area hospitals which include children just days before Christmas break. Two students have already been released.
Suspected shooter Rupnow was a teen who attended the school and was found by police with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She died being transported to hospital.
‘We know that the suspect shooter was a teenage student who attended the school,’ Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said in an earlier briefing on Monday.
Barnes noted the family of the suspected shooter is cooperating with the investigation. It is unclear how the teen got a hold of the deadly weapon.
‘Why did this happen? What do we know? What was the motivation?’ Barnes said. ‘I do not know.’
The bloodbath resulted in three casualties – one student, one teacher and the shooter – and six others transported to area hospitals
Natalie Rupnow opened fired on Monday killing two others and injuring several others
It is unknown if the suspect had any contact with law enforcement prior to deadly shooting.
‘We do not know that the shooter had any prior contact with law enforcement. But I did do a check of the school,’ Barnes said.
‘There were some calls, but they were like 911 hang-ups, things of that nature. There was nothing that suggested that the school was a place that violence would occur.’
‘Six other people were injured, two students are now in critical condition in the hospital, and these injuries are considered life threating injuries,’ Barnes said.
‘Four students are also at other area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.’
A handgun was discovered by officers at Abundant Life Christian School and students are being interviewed by police.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes called for compassion saying, ‘That’s still someone’s child that is gone’
Barnes said around 10:57 a.m. officers responded to calls of an active shooter.
‘When officers arrived, they found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds,’ he said. Barnes added that officers did not fire any shots at the school when responding to the incident.
The police chief said that the two victims in Monday’s school shooting were a teacher and a student.
The third deceased person was the shooter, who appears to have killed themselves before police arrived at the school.
Police are not releasing other information about those who have lost their lives until next of kin are briefed.
‘I’m not going to give any information about who the victims are, whether they’re students, staff or parents, because we need to make sure that we can notify people,’ Barnes said.
