A teenage student shot and killed two people and injured six others at Abundant Life Christian School Monday morning. The shooter, a 15-year-old who attended the K-12 school, was later found dead by apparent suicide by the Madison Police Department (MPD).
Officers responded at 10:57 a.m. to a report of an active shooter after a call was made by a second-grade student, MPD Chief Shon Barnes said in a press conference Monday night.
The police found the suspected shooter, who they identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, dead when they entered the building. Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha, was pronounced dead on her way to the hospital, with the evidence suggesting she died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Barnes said.
The shooter killed a teenage student and a teacher using a handgun, and six other people were taken to hospitals, including two who have life-threatening injuries, Barnes told the press Monday afternoon. A spokesperson for SSM Health told the Associated Press two patients were discharged Monday night and two others remain hospitalized at St. Mary’s Hospital in stable condition.
Two students remained in critical condition at different hospitals, Barnes said at the press conference. He added the school remained under lockdown, as authorities investigated the study hall where the shooting occurred. A motive is under investigation and the police had searched Rupnow’s home Monday afternoon, with family members cooperating.
By Monday afternoon, manifestos attributed to Rupnow circulated online, as did claims Rupnow was transgender. Police haven’t verified the authenticity of either.
After mass shootings in the past, right-wing commentators have made false claims about the perpetrators being transgender. Cisgender men commit the vast majority of mass shootings, according to a Reuters analysis.
Barnes said the shooter's gender identity, which isn’t known, wasn’t relevant to what they did, and urged people to be responsible on social media at the press conference.
Located around six miles from the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, Abundant Life Christian School has around 390 students, according to their website. The school requested prayers and promised additional information in a statement posted to their Facebook.
Students began arriving at SSM Health Clinic around 2:30 p.m. to reunify with families, according to The New York Times.
La Follette High School, Sennett Middle School and Elvehjem Elementary School were put on “secure hold” after news of the shooting broke. While Abundant Life Christian isn’t part of the Madison Metropolitan School District, District Superintendent Joe Gothard said in a statement the impact of the tragedy affects the entire Madison community.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison said there is no ongoing threat to the community in a statement at 1 p.m. and offered resources and support to students and faculty affected by the shooting.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement Monday there were “no words to describe the heartbreak and devastation” and ordered flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to half-staff across the state through Dec. 22.
Other Wisconsin politicians, including U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan and Dane County Executive Melissa Agard offered condolences and appreciation for first responders.
On social media, multiple UW-Madison students criticized the frequency of gun violence in the United States, particularly in schools. Many students took aim at the “thoughts and prayers” being offered by politicians instead of concrete policy.
“Stop asking why schools don’t have bullet proof glass and metal detectors at all the doors,” Barnes said. “Ask why schools have to. That's the question that needs to be asked.”
MPD previously said at least five people were killed, but they said around 1:15 p.m. Monday they had made an error.
A candlelight vigil, hosted by The Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the State Capitol.
Editor's note: this article was updated at 1:17 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 to confirm and update the number of victims reported dead by MPD.
This article was updated at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 with new information on police, politicians and university statements.
This article was updated at 9:50 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 with information about the shooter's identity and conditions of victims.
Gavin Escott is the campus news editor for the Daily Cardinal. He has covered protests, breaking news and written in-depth on Wisconsin politics and higher education. He is the former producer of the Cardinal Call podcast. Follow him on X at @gav_escott.
