MADISON, Wis. — Three people are dead, including a female juvenile shooter who attended the school. Six others were sent to area hospitals for injuries after a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., the Madison Police Department said Monday afternoon.
Madison police previously erroneously said that five people were deceased and five were injured during a press conference. They have since corrected those numbers. However, these numbers could be updated as the investigation continues.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said police responded to reports of an active shooting at Abundant Life Christian School at 10:57 a.m. after a second grade teacher called 911 to report an active shooter at the school.
Madison police previously erroneously said Monday night that a second grade student called 911. They have since corrected that statement.
Officers were on scene as soon as 11 a.m. and immediately entered the school.
Upon arrival, police found multiple people were injured from gunshot wounds. In accordance with protocol, Barnes said police worked to immediately “stop the killing, stop the dying and find out who’s doing this.”
Barnes said police identified a 15-year-old girl who was a student at Abundant Life Christian School who they believed to be the shooter at 11:05 a.m. The student, identified as Natalie "Samantha" Rupnow, had suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The shooting happened in a classroom that was being used for a study hall for a mix of grade levels. Barbara Wiers, the school’s director for elementary and communications, told The Associated Press that the attack lasted eight minutes — shorter than the school’s regular snack break. The classroom was on the second floor of the school. Police said one person outside of the classroom was also injured, as one of the bullets entered an adjacent room.
Rupnow was pronounced dead en route to the hospital, Barnes said. According to the Dane County Medical Examiner, Rupnow died due to "firearm related trauma."
Police said they do not have reason to believe there was another shooter involved in Madison. However, Madison police did acknowledge reports that a California man had been identified to be connected with the attack. Madison police did not confirm or deny this but directed questions regarding the California report to the FBI. Spectrum News 1 reahced out to the FBI and a spokesperson said they had "no comment."
"As difficult as today is, that's still someone's child that's gone … We wanna make sure that we can ensure as much cooperation as [possible]," he said. Barnes said the parents of the alleged shooter have been cooperative and detectives have spoken with the shooter's family. Officers have also searched the shooter's home.
The shooter was only in her first semester at the school but seemed to be settling in, Wiers said Thursday as families of the victims remembered them as people of faith who had deep connections within the Christian school.
The school was working with her family on attendance, but teachers had no significant concerns, she said.
“I pray for this family because right now they’ve lost a daughter and they are wounded," she said. "And they’re dealing with the fact that their daughter did this terrible thing and hurt these other people. It has to be one of the loneliest, bitterest places to be.”
The shooter's parents, who are divorced, jointly shared custody of their child, but the shooter primarily lived with her 42-year-old father, according to court documents.
“He lost someone as well," Barnes said of the father. "And so we’re not going to rush the information. We’ll take our time and make sure we do our due diligence.”
Barnes said the shooter had two firearms, but only used one in the shooting. The weapon used was a handgun, which was recovered at the scene. Police said the shooter was believed to be in school that day and there was not a security breach or break-in related to the shooting.
"The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) completed its data trace and provided the results to MPD. At this time, we will not be providing any information about these weapons as it could jeopardize our investigation," Madison police said in an incident report.
Wiers said when they practice safety routines, leaders always announce that it's a drill. That didn’t happen Monday, just a week before Christmas break.
“When they heard, ‘Lockdown, lockdown,’ they knew it was real,” she said.
Wiers said the school does not have metal detectors but uses other security measures including cameras.
Police said a motive was unknown at this time and they are still working to determine any warning signs exhibited by the suspected shooter. On Tuesday, Dec. 17, Barnes said finding a motive was detectives' top priority.
“I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,” he said.
Barnes said there are always warning signs in a school shooter situation. Officials are looking into the shooter's online and social media activity. Barnes said the shooter's motive appeared to potentially be a comination of factors at this time, but could not share what those might be as to not compromise the investigation.
Police asked anyone who knew the shooter or had insights into her feelings to contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at (608) 266-6014 or via P3 Tips.
Barnes said that the authenticity of a document circulating the internet about the shooter's apparent motives has not been authenticated or verified as legitimate at this time. Detectives are working to find the origins of the document.
Barnes said detectives were, “working hard to find as many answers as we can.”
First responders began administrating life-saving measures to all victims at the school once they arrived. One of the deceased victims was a teacher at the school; the other deceased victim was a teenage student. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Dane County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victims on Wednesday, Dec. 18 as 14-year-old Rubi Vergara, a freshman at the school, and 42-year-old Erin Michelle West, a substitute coordinator at the school. The medical examiner confirmed they each died at the scene as a result of gunshot wounds.
The injured people were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Injuries ranged from “minor” to “life-threatening.” None of the six injured individuals have been publicly identified.
Officials said of the six people injured, two of them are in the hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. The two in critical condition are students.
Emily Greendonner, a spokesperson for UW Health, confirmed UW Health had received patients from the shooting and set up areas for patients’ families. UW Health is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin.
On Friday, Dec. 20, Greendonner said the two patients in UW Health's care were still in the hospital. They were stable, but both still in critical condition.
"Two patients remain in critical condition but are stable. The families ask for continued respect for their privacy and would like to thank American Family Children’s Hospital for their excellent care," she said in a statement.
The other four people who were injured were taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. Three of them were students and the fourth was a teacher.
Lisa Adams, a spokesperson for SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, said the hospital cared for four patients from the shooting. Two of those patients have since been released from the hospital, as of 6:40 p.m. Monday.
The other two patients remained hospitalized for a longer period of time but were in stable condition. As of Wednesday night, they had also been released from the hospital.
“We are praying for all affected by today’s tragic incident at Abundant Life Christian School and our community as a whole. We are grateful for the first responders who acted swiftly today,” she said. “SSM Health is dedicated to serving our community. We remain committed to providing support and assistance in any way we can.”
Barnes said the school has been cleared and there is no threat to the community at this time.
Police are still on scene, working to gather evidence and additional information; officials said the scene is active and the investigation is ongoing. The crime scene has been locked down and is being processed. People have been asked to avoid the area; no one is allowed on school property at this time. Police reminded the community that the school property is an active crime scene and asked that any vigils be held somewhere else. Police will continue to monitor the school property overnight.
Nearby roads have been blocked off along 4900 Buckeye Road.
Barnes said, as of 5:40 p.m., all students who survived the shooting had been reunited with their families. Officials are still in the process of reunification for teachers and staff with their loved ones.
SSM Health Dean Medical Group said all operations at that location will be withheld for the rest of the day on Monday, Dec. 16. Staff will reach out to patients to reschedule any appointments.
Bethany Highman's daughter attends Abundant Life Christian School. Highman was waiting to get to her daughter at the reunification center Monday afternoon.
Highman said it is surreal because you never expect to go through this even though it does happen.
“I bring my daughter to school knowing well that this happens in the world. That people are struggling. And I pray for my daughter’s safety and I pray for the entire school’s safety. I pray for the hearts of the students, the teachers, the staff members. It’s a very real thing," she said.
Highman’s world stopped when she got the call about the shooting.
“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters. There’s nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids," Highman said.
Robert Nelson is a dad of two students who attend Abundant Life Christian School. He said he dropped them off this morning before heading into work. Then he got the scariest text of his life.
“I got a text message from my daughter, Olive, who said she heard what sounded like gunshots and that their school was on lockdown,” Nelson said.
Nelson was also at the reunification center, waiting to pick up his son and daughter.
“I’m in shock, still standing here, looking at the police presence. I was inside the clinic a few minutes ago. It is packed full of people with questions and no answers,” he said. “But emotionally, for me, I’m in shock.”
Nelson said he and the mother of his two children who attend Abundant Life Christian School have already decided their children will not return to the school after today.
“We have already made the decision that the kids won’t be going back to the school and made the decision that they will be homeschooled for the rest of the year,” he said. “But we have been on the phone with a counselor and getting stuff lined up that way, in terms of getting professional help for them to talk to,” he explained.
Barnes, a father himself, said schools should be a safe place and refuge for students.
“To be honest with you, I’m feeling a little dismayed now. So close to Christmas. Every child, every person in that building, is a victim and will be a victim forever. This kind of trauma just don’t go away … My heart is heavy for my community. My heart is heavy for Madison,” Barnes said.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday issued an executive order that all U.S. and Wisconsin flags to be flown at half-staff statewide, as a mark of respect for victims of the school shooting. Flags will be flown at half-staff beginning immediately, through Mon. Dec. 23 at sunset.
“There are no words to describe the devastation and heartbreak we feel today after the school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison this morning," Evers said in part in a statement late on Monday. "Kathy and I join the people of Wisconsin in praying for the families and loved ones of those whose lives were so senselessly taken and for the educators, staff, and the entire Abundant Life school community as they grapple with the grief, trauma, and loss of this gut-wrenching tragedy."
In a statement, the White House said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and officials were in touch with local authorities to provide support.
Other Madison schools were placed on lockdown, but police have determined there is no threat to Madison Metropolitan School District schools at this time.
Officers from around the county and state assisted Madison police. Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have responded to the scene to assist local law enforcement.
Barnes said officers train quarterly for active shooter situations. The last training Madison police officers underwent was two weeks ago.
Barnes called this a “sad day for our community and for our country,” and said, “we have to do a little bit better.”
“Our hearts are heavy with great sorrow as we mourn the senseless loss of life in yet another school shooting," said State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly in a statement. "No community should ever face the pain of losing children, teachers, or friends to violence – especially in our schools. Our schools are meant to be safe places."
Abundant Life Christian School is nondenominational and has 420 students, from 3K through 12th grade. This was the last week of classes before students went on Christmas break.
The school said it is equipped with security cameras in the hallways and conducts visual scans each morning of every student. School doors are always locked and a school spokesperson said school staff followed safety protocols. In the interest of maximizing safety, school officials did not disclose comprehensive security plan.
“I’m not aware that the school had metal detectors nor should schools have metal detectors. It’s a safe space,” Barnes said.
The school asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post. Wiers, the school's director, said they're still deciding whether they will resume classes this week.
“I didn’t know there were that many squad cars in Madison. We saw a few guys with long guns. They went into the school with a dog,” John Diaz De Leon, who lives nearby and attends the adjacent City Church, said. “Later on I saw groups of kids coming out of the school into the church sanctuary.”
Monday's was the the latest among dozens of school shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in Newtown, Connecticut, Parkland, Florida, and Uvalde, Texas.
The shootings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to doing active shooter drills in their classrooms.
But school shootings have done little to move the needle on national gun laws. Firearms were the leading cause of death among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues.
Madison officials said anyone who needs mental health assistance or support during this time can call or text 988 for help. For more resources, click here, or call 211.
"Please know that you're not alone. Dane County stands with you ... Please reach out and ask for help," Dane County Executive Melissa Agard said.
Madison Police have shared a facts and questions page regarding the shooting. You can find that, here.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
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