In a shocking incident that unfolded in Madison, Wisconsin, a 15-year-old girl, Natalie Rupnow, is reported to have orchestrated a deadly shooting at a private Christian school.
The attack, which occurred on Monday, resulted in the tragic loss of a teacher and a teen student. As per reports, Rupnow was in communication with a man in California who was allegedly conspiring with her to execute a mass shooting.
The man, whose identity is protected by a restraining order obtained by the Associated Press, reportedly disclosed to FBI agents that he had been in conversation with Rupnow about launching an assault on a government building using firearms and explosives. The restraining order, however, does not specify the targeted building or the planned date of the attack. It also refrains from elaborating on the nature of his interactions with Rupnow.
According to Fox News, the restraining order was issued by a California judge on Tuesday against the 20-year-old man from Carlsbad under the states gun red flag law. The order mandates the man to surrender his firearms and ammunition to the police within 48 hours unless an officer demands them sooner due to an immediate threat to himself and others.
The tragic incident took place just before 11 a.m. in a study hall at Abundant Life Christian School. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes reported that responding officers found Rupnow with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She succumbed to her injuries en route to the hospital.
The Dane County Medical Examiners report identified the victims as 14-year-old student Rubi Patricia Vergara and 42-year-old teacher Erin M. West. The report confirmed that both West and Vergara died due to "homicidal firearm related trauma." In addition to the fatalities, six others were injured in the shooting, with two students critically wounded and battling life-threatening injuries.
Vergara, a freshman at Abundant Life Christian School, was remembered in an obituary as an "avid reader, lover of art, and singing and playing keyboard in the family worship band." Her aunt, in a conversation with Fox News Digital, expressed the family's grief, stating it has been a "very hard week" for them as they prepare for her niece's funeral, scheduled for Saturday in Madison.
The Madison Police Department confirmed the recovery of two guns from the school post-shooting. However, it was reported that only one gun was used by Rupnow. During a press conference on Tuesday, Barnes emphasized that "identifying a motive is our top priority." He suggested that the motive might be multifaceted, but refrained from providing further details.
"Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened," Barnes said. "We may never know what she was thinking that day, but well do our best to try to add or give as much information to our public as possible."
The source of the handguns used by Rupnow remains unknown, and Barnes declined to reveal who purchased them, citing the ongoing investigation. No decisions have been made regarding potential charges against Rupnow's parents in connection with the shooting.
The police are in conversation with Rupnows father and other family members, who are reportedly cooperating, and are conducting a search of Rupnows home. Barnes refrained from providing additional details about the shooter, partly out of respect for the family.
Rebekah Smith, a parent of a student at the Abundant Life Christian School, shared with Fox News that she and her husband were acquainted with all the victims and their families. Smith revealed that the deceased teacher had a daughter who participated in sports with Smith's daughter, and they often interacted with the mother at the games. The teacher had been a long-term substitute at the school and had recently become a full-time teacher.
Barbara Wiers, the school's communication director, stated that West had worked as a substitute teacher for three years before accepting a position as the school's substitute coordinator and an in-building substitute teacher. She also mentioned that Vergara had been a student at the school since kindergarten.
The tragic incident has left the community in shock and mourning, as they grapple with the loss of two lives and the injury of several others. The investigation continues, with the hope of shedding light on the motives behind this horrifying act of violence.
Login