Law enforcement has determined that a 15-year-old female student is responsible for killing two people during a shooting at a K-12 Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin Monday afternoon.
Madison police police chief Shon Barnes said Monday night that suspect Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the way to a hospital after the shoot. A teacher and a student were killed, and six other students and a teacher are thought to be injured from the shooting.
Barnes also stated that a second grader called the police around around 10:57 a.m. eastern to report an active shooting situation in a study hall.
“Let that soak in for a minute,” Barnes said. “A second grade student called 911 at 10:57 a.m. to report a shooting at school.”
He later clarified that a second grade teacher made the call, not a student.
The police said in a previous statement that three people, including the shooter, were deceased as a result of the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School. Earlier in the day, police erroneously said five people were dead, a mistake they acknowledged in the statement.
Inside the school, officers found the deceased juvenile believed to be the shooting suspect, Barnes told reporters at an afternoon news conference. It is unknown if the alleged shooter had prior contact with law enforcement.
“I am on record that I think we need to do better in our country and our community to prevent gun violence. And I hoped that this day would never come in Madison,” Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said at a press conference.
“It is not something that any mayor, any fire chief, any police chief, any person in public office ever wants to have to deal with.”
Barnes said that the suspected shooter’s family is cooperating with law enforcement’s ongoing investigation. Detectives have searched the shooter’s home and are currently investigating the shooter’s motive. The shooter’s apparent manifesto began circulating on social media Monday but it was kept on a private Google doc. Law enforcement has not address the purported manifesto.
Police have declined to release details on the victims of the shooting until they speak with family members. Officers did not fire their weapons when they arrived at the school.
Abundant Life did not have a school resource officer to guard the facility prior to the shooting. School official Barbara Wiers said students handled the shooting “magnificently” and previously underwent school safety training.
“I am closely monitoring the incident at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. 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,” said Wisconsin governor Tony Evers (D).
Other Wisconsin lawmakers also mourned the loss of life at Abundant Life and said they are willing to provide any assistance if necessary.
“My sincere condolences and prayers for all the victims of the tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School. I will continue to closely monitor the situation,” said Senator Ron Johnson (R., Wisc.).
His senate counterpart, Democrat Tammy Baldwin, said she has been briefed on the situation and is communicating with local and state officials.
“I have been briefed on the active shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison and my heart goes out to all those impacted. My office is in touch with local and state officials, and I stand ready to assist law enforcement and anyone affected,” Baldwin said.
President Joe Biden called for stricter gun safety measures following the school shooting, only weeks after he pardoned his son Hunter for gun and tax crimes.
“Congress must pass commonsense gun safety laws: Universal background checks. A national red flag law. A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” Biden said in a statement.
“We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart.”
Abundant Life asked people to pray for the school in the wake of the shooting and promised to share information about what happened.
“Prayers Requested! Today, we had an active shooter incident at ALCS. We are in the midst of following up. We will share information as we are able,” the school said on social media.
“Please pray for our Challenger Family.”