Madison, Wisconsin — A tragic Wisconsin school shooting occurred at Abundant Life Christian School on Monday morning when a 15-year-old student, identified by police as Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, opened fire in a study hall, killing two students and injuring six others before taking her own life.

The Madison Police Department confirmed that the attack was premeditated. Chief Shon Barnes, speaking at a press conference, stated that authorities are currently investigating Rupnow’s motives and reviewing her personal writings. A manifesto allegedly linked to the teen is circulating on social media, though police have yet to authenticate it.

Rupnow arrived at the private K-12 school at the start of the day before opening fire on a classroom filled with students of various grades. The first 911 call, placed by a second-grade student, came in at 10:57 a.m. Within minutes, law enforcement and emergency personnel arrived at the scene. Deputies found Rupnow wounded from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and she was pronounced dead while being transported to a local hospital.

Investigation Underway in Wisconsin School Shooting

Police raided Rupnow’s family home on Delaware Boulevard later that evening to search for evidence. The operation included breaching the entrance and deploying stun grenades. Authorities confirmed that Rupnow’s father is cooperating fully with the investigation.

“The parents are fully cooperating, and we have no reason to believe they have committed any crime at this time,” said Chief Barnes. Expressing sympathy, he added, “He [Rupnow’s father] lost someone as well. We will take our time to ensure a thorough investigation.”

Law enforcement is also addressing speculation regarding Rupnow’s gender identity, which has been a topic of debate on social media. Chief Barnes emphasized that such discussions are irrelevant to the tragedy. “I don’t know whether Natalie was transgender or not. Quite frankly, I don’t think that’s important at all,” he stated. “What matters now is understanding what happened and supporting the affected families.”

Victims and Emergency Response

Emergency personnel worked quickly to care for the wounded. Of the six injured, two students remain in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. A teacher and three other students sustained less serious wounds, with two victims discharged by Monday evening. Authorities are withholding the identities of the victims until families are notified.

The Madison school community, which serves approximately 420 students from preschool through high school, was preparing for Christmas vacation and Monday night’s basketball game. In response to the tragedy, the school shared a brief statement on social media:

“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. Please keep our community in your prayers.”

Local and National Response

The incident has drawn responses from local leaders and federal officials. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers expressed his support on X, formerly Twitter:

“I am closely monitoring the incident at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. We are praying for the kids, educators, and the entire Abundant Life school community.”

Senator Ron Johnson also extended condolences:
“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.”

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting, and senior White House officials are coordinating with local authorities to offer support.

A Community in Mourning

As investigations continue, Chief Barnes assured the public that law enforcement is working diligently to uncover the circumstances leading up to the shooting. “We will not rush this investigation,” he said. “Our priority is ensuring that the facts come to light.”

The Madison community remains in shock, grappling with the devastating loss of life and the profound impact on students, staff, and families.