A deadly shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday morning, left two victims dead and six others injured. The suspected shooter, 15-year-old Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound during transport to the hospital. The Madison Police Department and federal agencies are continuing their investigation into the incident, which unfolded during a mixed-grade study hall at the private K-12 academy.
Authorities confirmed that Rupnow had recently transferred to Abundant Life Christian School and brought a handgun to campus before opening fire at approximately 11 a.m. A teacher and a teenage student were killed at the scene. Of the six injured, two students remain in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, while the remaining victims—a teacher and three students—suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Two of the injured have since been released from the hospital.
Rupnow’s motive remains under investigation. A document alleged to be a manifesto linked to the shooter is circulating online, though authorities have yet to verify its authenticity. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes stated that police and federal investigators are aware of the document and are working to determine its relevance to the case.
According to police, the weapon used in the attack is being traced to identify its origin. Rupnow reportedly posted images online suggesting she had received the handgun as a birthday gift. SWAT teams executed a search warrant at Rupnow’s home on Monday afternoon, using tactical vehicles to breach the property. Officers seized potential evidence from the residence, located approximately eight miles from the school.
Speculation about Rupnow’s gender identity surfaced following the shooting, prompting Chief Barnes to address the matter in a press conference. “I don’t know whether [the shooter] was transgender or not,” Barnes said. “I don’t think that whatever happened today has anything to do with how she or he or they may have wanted to identify.”
I was the first to break the news that the deceased mass shooter at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisc. is a 15-year-old girl named Natalie Lynn Rupnow. Here’s what I discovered: https://t.co/Pxp1xFGIAD
— Andy Ngo ️ (@MrAndyNgo) December 17, 2024
The school, which enrolls around 420 students, does not have metal detectors or an on-site school resource officer. Administrators confirmed that security measures, including surveillance cameras and visual scans of students entering the building, are in place. However, the absence of metal detectors has raised questions about whether additional precautions could have prevented the tragedy.
Rupnow’s parents are cooperating with law enforcement, and investigators do not anticipate filing charges against them at this time. Police are examining evidence suggesting a strained family dynamic, as well as Rupnow’s online activity, which reportedly included disturbing posts related to school shootings and violent ideologies.
On page four of her manifesto, Samantha says that she acquired the weapons to commit the shooting through “lies, manipulation, and my father’s stupidity.”
Her boyfriend says he was aware that there was a gun safe in her house, but does not know how she got access to it. pic.twitter.com/EHaX2vOVXQ
— pagliacci the hated (@Slatzism) December 17, 2024
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities focused on piecing together the circumstances leading to the shooting. Local and federal agencies, including the FBI, continue to work on establishing a clear motive, understanding the shooter’s background, and evaluating how such incidents can be prevented in the future.
