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The juvenile shooter at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, was a 15-year-old female student, according to Madison police.
During an evening news conference on Monday, Police Chief Shon F. Barnes identified the shooter as Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha. She was pronounced dead while being transported to a hospital, and evidence suggested she died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Barnes. The shooter’s age was initially reported as 17, but later at the press briefing, authorities confirmed she was 15.
The shooting left one student and one teacher dead and six injured, said Barnes. At a press conference Tuesday, Dec. 17, Barnes said that thetwo students who suffered life-threatening injuries remain in critical condition.
Four other students were at other area hospitals. A spokesperson for SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital said two patients were discharged on Monday night, while two others are in stable condition at St. Mary’s Hospital, per the Associated Press.
Also at the Tuesday briefing, Barnes corrected a mistake he made yesterday when he said a second grade student called 911 to report the shooting. It was actually a second grade teacher, Barnes said, taking responsibility for the mistake.
Barnes also said that police were looking into a supposed manifesto that had been circling online, stating that authorities could not confirm its authenticity. He said the possible motive was a “combination of factors,” but could not share specifics as the investigation remains ongoing.
According to Barnes, police responded to the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School just before 11 a.m. local time, arriving to find “multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds” and the “juvenile who they believe was responsible.” Officers began to administer life-saving measures to the victims before some were taken to the hospital. Barnes also said that police officers did not fire their weapons after entering the school.
Police arrived within four minutes of the 911 call, Barnes stated yesterday. Law enforcement said it appeared the weapon used in the attack was a 9-mm pistol.
During an earlier press conference Monday, authorities erroneously said that five people had died in the shooting. The Madison Police Department issued a statement clarifying that three people had died about 20 minutes later.
Wisconsin governor Tony Evers issued a statement on X, saying he was “closely monitoring the incident,” adding: “We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond.”
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, about 335 students are enrolled at Abundant Life Christian School, which teaches kindergarten through 12th grade. It shares a campus with the non-denominational City Church, as well as the Campus for Kids Learning Center for infants and younger children.
This story was updated at 3:48 p.m. ET with additional information from Police Chief Shon Barnes’ second press conference. This story was updated 6:25 p.m. ET on Dec. 16, 2024, and at 12:58 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2024, with additional information about the school shooter. This story was updated Dec. 17, 2024 at 2:25 p.m. ET after Barnes clarified that a second grade teacher had called 911.
