The tragic shooting at a Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, which resulted in the deaths of a teenage student and a substitute teacher, has left the community in shock.
The Dane County Medical Examiner's Office has now released the identities of the victims and the alleged shooter, shedding new light on the horrific incident.
According to Fox News Digital, the victims have been identified as 14-year-old student Rubi Patricia Vergara and 42-year-old teacher Erin M. West. The alleged shooter was named as 15-year-old Natalie "Samantha" L. Rupnow. The report confirmed that all three individuals died at the scene due to "homicidal firearm related trauma."
The medical examiner's report further stated that additional testing is still ongoing. The City of Madison Police Department and the Dane County Medical Examiners Office are jointly investigating the incident, with no further information available at this time.
Rubi Patricia 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, speaking to Fox News Digital, described the past week as "very hard" for the family as they prepare for Vergara's funeral, scheduled for Saturday in Madison.
The Madison Police Department confirmed the recovery of two guns from the school post-shooting, although only one was allegedly used by Rupnow. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes, during a press conference, emphasized that identifying a motive is their "top priority." He suggested that the motive might be a complex mix of factors, without 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 stated. He also mentioned that the police were in contact with Rupnows father and other family members, who were cooperating with the investigation.
Barnes, showing respect for the family's loss, declined to share additional details about the shooter. "He lost someone as well," Barnes said of Rupnows father. "And so were not going to rush the information. Well take our time and make sure we do our due diligence."
The aftermath of the shooting has left two students in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. A teacher and three other students were also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, two of whom have since been released.
James and Rebekah Smith, parents of a 17-year-old student at Abundant Life Christian School, shared with Fox News that they were acquainted with all the victims and their families. They revealed that Rupnow, the alleged shooter, was a recent enrollee at the school and was not well-known among the students, including their daughter.
Rebekah Smith shared that the deceased teacher, Erin West, had a daughter who participated in sports with the Smiths' daughter. West had been a long-term substitute teacher at the school and had only recently become a full-time teacher.
The tragic incident has left a deep impact on the community, raising questions about school safety and the need for effective measures to prevent such incidents in the future. As investigations continue, the community mourns the loss of two lives and prays for the recovery of those injured.
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