Police are reporting on Tuesday about the school shooting at a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, that left a teenage student and a teacher dead.
Five students and a teacher were also injured in Monday’s shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, police said. The injuries ranged from minor to fatal. Four people remain hospitalized and their conditions remain unchanged, Madison Police Chief Shon F. Barnes said during the news conference.
The student and teacher who were killed have not been publicly identified, and will not be until their families are notified, police said. The shooter, what a cop identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnowhe was found dead.
“Our community is feeling a lot about what happened last night and we’re really trying to put the pieces together to bring some answers to our community,” Barnes. he said Tuesday on “CBS Mornings.”
Rupnow, who went by Samantha, was a student at the school, Barnes said Monday. She appeared to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Barnes said, and was pronounced dead while being transported to an area hospital. The police did not fire their weapons, police said. Police are investigating how Rupnow obtained a gun, Barnes said, and Rupnow’s family is cooperating with the investigation.
Barnes said Rupnow’s motive appears to be a “combination of factors,” but said he would not share further details at this time to avoid jeopardizing the investigation. He asked that anyone with information about Rupnow’s state of mind or feelings contact Madison CrimeStoppers.
Barnes said investigators are looking at Rupnow’s social media presence, but did not share any specific information about the teenager’s online behavior. Investigators are also trying to determine whether Rupnow was harassed and whether that influenced her actions, Barnes said.
Barnes also addressed the circulation of a document allegedly related to the shooting that has circulated on the Internet. Barnes said the document’s authenticity cannot be verified and said detectives are working on the source of the document and how it came to be shared online. He asked that the document not be released or shared further and said police would provide an update when possible.
Barnes also clarified an earlier statement about the shooting that was reported to 911 by a second-grader. He said the shooting was reported by a second-grade teacher.
A vigil to honor the victims of the shooting will be held Tuesday at the Capitol building in Madison at 6 p.m. local time, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said.