Madison Wisconsin school shooting: What we know as Natalie Rupnow, 15, is named as killer

A 15-year-old student killed two people, wounded six others and died in the K-12 private school shooting in Madison, Wisconsinpolice said Monday.

The The shooting happened at Abundant Life Christian School around 11 a.m.

Police have identified Natalie Rupnow as the killer, but have yet to reveal a motive.

Six people were taken to nearby hospitals after the shooting with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening.

“I’m asking everyone to send your heartfelt wishes, prayers and thoughts, once again, to the community — but this time it’s my community,” Madison Police Department Chief Sean Barnes told reporters.

Who is the suspected shooter?

Police have identified 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, a student at the school, as the killer.

Rupnow’s family is cooperating with police.

The teenager’s father spoke with police Monday night in what Barnes called “a long conversation.”

“At this point we have no reason to believe they committed a crime,” Barnes said Monday of the family.

The chief urged the public to ignore the rapid, unverified internet speculation that the killer was transgender.

“I don’t think what happened today has anything to do with how she, he or they may have wanted to identify themselves,” Chief Barnes said. “I wish people would kind of leave their personal biases out of this.” We have people who have another school shooting in Madison. That is where my focus will be in the near future.”

Did the suspected killer attend school?

The suspected killer is believed to have attended Abundant Life Christian School, according to police.

A police official said Rupnow appeared to be present at the school the morning after the shooting.

“We believe the killer was at the school,” Barnes. “We have no information that there was any breach in the school.”

The private school, founded in 1978, has about 400 students. The school’s website describes it as “a Christian community school with a vision of providing academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment for families in the greater Dane County area.”

Who are the victims?

Officials said they were victims student and teacher at the school, although police have not yet released additional details about the people who were killed and wounded.

Of the six people injured in the shooting, two are in critical condition with life-threatening injuries and four suffered non-life-threatening wounds, Barnes added.

Two of the four who suffered minor injuries have been released from the hospital, Barnes said later Monday.

How did the shooting happen?

The shooting happened in a study room where there were students from several grades.

The second-grader called 911 and informed the police about the shooting.

Officers arrived at the school about three minutes after the 911 call and immediately entered the school.

What weapon was used in the shooting?

A gun was found at the scene of the shooting, Barnes said. Officials are working to track down the source of the weapon.

Police do not yet know how Rupnow obtained the weapon.

Has the motive been identified?

Police do not know if the shooting had a specific target or motive.

“Whether they were targeted or not would speak to motivation, and we don’t know that answer yet,” Barnes said.

How is the community responding?

The shooting hit a community that has already experienced mass gun violence this year, after a dozen people were wounded over the summer in shooting at a rooftop party in Madison.

Madison Mayor Satya-Rhodes Conway said Monday the incident was “an incredibly sad day for our community” and a reminder of the need for reform to stop gun violence.

“I am aware that I think we have to do better in our country and in our community to prevent gun violence,” she said at a news conference. “And I hoped this day would never come in Madison.”

Wisconsin Congressman Representative Mark Pocan had a similar message after the shooting.

“Thoughts and prayers without action mean more school shootings, more dead children. Our elected officials need more ACTION. And more BACKBONE to counter the arms manufacturers,” he wrote at X. “This is a uniquely United States problem that doesn’t have to happen.”

Barnes said Monday: “We have to use our resources when we see that things might be going wrong or someone might be going off the beaten path. It is now a burden on our country and we have to take better care of each other.”

He said all the children at the school have been reunited with their parents. “Children are now the last group of school shooting survivors,” he noted.

The local population was shocked by the shooting.

“I didn’t want to believe it. At first I thought it was an accident,” Gary Herrmann, who lives nearby, said WMTV. “And then when I heard the gunshot, that’s when it really hit me.”

A vigil is planned for tomorrow at the Wisconsin State Capitol building in Madison.

If you’re in the US and you or someone you know needs mental health help right now, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to access the online chat with 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline available to anyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can leave www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. In the UK, people experiencing a mental health crisis can contact the Samaritans at 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org.