A tragic shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Dane County, Wisconsin, left one teacher and one student dead, and several others wounded, including two who remain in critical condition. Police identified the shooter as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, also known as “Samantha,” who opened fire during study hall before turning the weapon on herself. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are revealing troubling details about Rupnow’s life and possible motives.
Rupnow, who had recently enrolled at the school, shot her victims with a 9mm handgun in a mixed-age classroom. In the aftermath, six people were injured, including five students and a teacher. Two victims were discharged from the hospital, while two remain in critical condition, according to local health officials. The shooter, who appeared to have suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was pronounced dead in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.
BREAKING: The victims in the Madison school shooting were a teacher and a teenage student, police say. https://t.co/gq9PvppGCq pic.twitter.com/aqqVFIpLAY
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 16, 2024
The school, which serves a community of about 400 students from kindergarten to high school, does not have metal detectors or dedicated security personnel, but had protocols in place. On the day of the shooting, staff quickly initiated lockdown procedures, which may have prevented further casualties. Pastor Kellen Lewis, whose children attend the school, stated that these measures “probably helped save some lives” and gave students a sense of control in the chaotic situation.
Authorities are currently examining a manifesto believed to have been written by Rupnow, which may shed light on her troubled mindset and motivations. Social media profiles suggest that Rupnow harbored extreme views, including admiration for school shooters and alignment with neo-Nazi ideologies. This has led to comparisons with last March’s shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, carried out by Audrey “Aidan” Hale, who also targeted both students and faculty in a violent attack.
Police Chief Shon Barnes urged the community to avoid focusing on the shooter’s identity, stating that it is unclear if gender played a role in the tragedy. “Identifying a motive is our top priority,” Barnes said, noting that multiple factors may have contributed to the violent act. Investigators continue to probe Rupnow’s personal history and online activity for further clues.
Therapy dogs at the vigil for the victims of the Abundant Life Christian Church School shooting in downtown Madison, Wisconsin.
December 17, 2024. pic.twitter.com/0SDo6gQHvT
— Mills Hayes (@MillsHayesTV) December 18, 2024
