12-17-2024, 4:38 PM

Police identify 15-year-old girl as shooter at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin

Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin / Video Screenshot
Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin / Video Screenshot

A 15-year-old girl opened fire at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, killing a teacher and a student and injuring six others, according to authorities.

Natalie Rupnow, the suspect, has also died, officials said. Police believe the adolescent, known as Samantha, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police say the adolescent suspect used a pistol. According to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes, authorities are investigating the firearm's provenance and searching Rupnow's residence on the city's north side.

Barnes said at a news conference on Tuesday that her motive may be a "combination of factors" and that police were speaking with classmates to discover whether Rupnow had been bullied. The teenager's family is working with the police.

Barnes stated during a news conference that the motivation is unclear.

It is also unclear whether any of the victims were intentionally targeted, police said on Monday.

The suspect's father was allegedly chatting with police at one of their locations.

Police are "trying to determine what he knew or may have not known about what happened today, but again, he lost someone as well," Barnes said.

Barnes also stated that authorities are not currently seeking to arrest Rupnow's parents in connection with the fatal shooting.

"The parents are fully cooperating, we have no reason to believe that they have committed a crime at this time," Barnes said.

Barnes said that two pupils are in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, while three other students and a teacher have non-life-threatening injuries.

Two of the four injured people were released from SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison on Monday evening.

Police responded to allegations of an active shooter at Abundant Life Christian School just before 11 a.m. on Monday and entered the school right away.

Police named the 15-year-old suspect as Natalie Rupnow. She was declared dead when officers arrived at the site of a possible self-inflicted gunshot wound, Madison officers Department Chief Shon Barnes said on Monday.

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